When the children’s choir finished singing and I heard the applause in the Nave, the sound was just as musical to me as the children themselves singing. Now I would like to give a round of applause from me, to everyone who jumped right in to help kick off our summer program.

Looking back, the talents of our leadership at the church were pertinent to bring us through the pandemic electronically. I am positive we were always, electronically, ahead of the game.

Another game changer the pandemic certainly taught all of us was that options matter. Being able to offer live streaming is now the new normal. We will continue to bring new state of the art ways to be connected at home.

While the options remain, the game has changed now. Attendance in person for you and your families really matters. Serving, physically, in person is what sustains a Church. It is also about being as one in Worship. Being engaged, giving, sacrificing, encouraging, and doing life all together at St. Michael’s.

God gives each of us gifts. Maybe you haven’t found what that is yet, until you try to serve? What gifts do you have to share? How can YOU shine your light to those around you? Try something new, step out of your safe zone.

This is what will be exciting this summer! We have an abundance of opportunities. The mystery and discovery of what newness will shine around us. Could we look at this summer as a new start, a reset, a reason to try new things? Bring creative ideas to the table? A fun summer to rebuild our in person attendance and ministries before the fall kick off. Not just for Sunday school, but for the entire Parish. Get to know new people. Come back to Church. To feel needed and to be needed, the truth is, we need you!

Last week, the Sunday school teachers and I used an analogy with the kids. It was about having all the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies vs. having all the things God gives us like seeds, water and sun light to make plants grow. Without every single one of the ingredients cited in the recipe, the cookies would not turn out as intended and similarly, the plants could not grow.

What if God’s recipe for St. Michael’s includes you? Are you the missing ingredient for his plan of how St. Michael’s is supposed to be renewed? Intended? Do you have a “NEW” whisper or a calling to shine your ingredient somehow? What if… whatever was meant to stop us, is now actually meant to promote us?

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.”

Ezekiel 36:26