Each Sunday we pray for birthdays and milestones with words that begin, “O God, our times are in your hands…” These times we inhabit are fraught with difficulty and turmoil; and I often wonder what it really and practically means to have our times be in God’s hands.

Our Advent journey is now turning into the wonder of Christmas. Let’s keep walking together.  While all the details are further down in this email, I want to say a little bit about the coming opportunities to gather and pray.

During the past few weeks, I’ve been spending extra time with our Baptismal Covenant—in Youth and Adult Confirmation Groups, preparing families for the celebration of two baptisms (1:00 service on All Saints), and finalizing liturgies for Bishop Akiyama’s visitation to St. Michael’s (Sunday!).

This Sunday is Ingathering for our 2025 Annual Giving Campaign. During all services, I invite you to offer your financial pledges as offerings of thanks to God and to support St. Michael’s life and ministry in the coming year. If you will bring your pledge this Sunday, we will have a time at the Offertory for you to bring it forward.

Election Day is less than two weeks away.  On November 5, votes across the country will be cast and counted to determine who will lead in government at the local, state and national levels. There is so much on the line. We need to give voice to the weight of the moment, and also to our shared anxiety about an outcome that is uncertain. I feel it. And I know you feel it. 

Greetings from the Florida Panhandle!  Last night I was honored to be present and preach at the Celebration of New Ministry for a friend and his new congregations (Yes, plural, there are two of them!) in Panama City Beach.  It was a joyful reunion for several of us who studied together at the Seminary of the Southwest.  Now, I am looking forward to being back with you on Sunday.

We don’t often read directly from The Book of Common Prayer on Sundays at St. Michael’s. You probably see it every week, peeking over the pew racks in back of each row, right next to hymnals and miscellaneous information cards. However, except for those who gather at the 7:30 service, we worship together using wonderfully produced, edited and printed worship bulletins that preserve us from having to juggle hymnals and prayer books and allow us to include additional words and prayers from the wider church as we worship together.

A few years ago, while I was serving in Houston, a couple of particularly conspicuous guests joined us one Sunday for worship. I may have been the only one in the room who didn’t know them. There was a buzz. Glances shot back and forth across the room.

Last Sunday was a wonderful and joy-filled gathering for our Annual All-Parish Picnic! It was a celebration of our life together as a diverse and multi-cultural parish family, and it was a beautiful occasion of thanks and appreciation for the ministry of Padre Beto. We sent him forth with love and blessing. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for all that we are as the people of St. Michael’s, and full of hope in looking toward God’s future together.