Dear Friends,

Somehow, we are already at the doorstep to the month of May!  If it weren’t for the warming weather, blooming flowers, and exploding canopy of green leaves overhead, we might not believe that time could carry us here so quickly.  Summer is in sight.

In the church, time hews closely to the changing natural seasons.  As we walk together through these weeks of the Easter season toward Pentecost, there will be celebrations and milestones to mark along the way.  This Sunday is the Easter Play at 9:00 and 11:00 services, featuring children of our parish community in “The Tale of Three Trees.”  From there, the excitement continues…

• On May 10, we will celebrate the high school graduations of five beloved St. Michael’s Seniors.  Watch next week for a feature on each of them, with photos, retrospectives, and plans for their steps.  Plan to be with us to bless them during the 9:00, 11:00, and 1:00 services and share a special coffee hour reception.
• On May 17, we’ll celebrate with our Administrative Assistant Joy Fithian, as she prepares for upcoming marriage to fiancé Joe in June.  Friends are planning a special coffee hour shower for her that day, with an invitation to bring cards and gifts to celebrate Joy & Joe. (Keep reading further down for details.)
• May 24 is the Feast of Pentecost, a great celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower the church for ministry as Christ’s Body in the world.  There are 6 baptisms planned for that day in two different services!  
• The week of May 29-30 is our annual Broadway Night fundraiser for Music Ministry at St. Michael’s.  I’ll also invite you to join me that Sunday (5/31) for a Rector’s Town Hall, where we can reflect on the wonder of our life together so far this year and look ahead to what is coming in the second half.

Finally, I want to share plans for an important celebration on June 7.  As we have previously announced, Leslie Sackett will be retiring this summer as Associate for Ministry to Children & Families at St. Michael’s.  Leslie has loved, adored, taught, comforted, celebrated, and connected children and their families in this community for nearly 35 years as a member of the staff.  While June 7 won’t be her “last day,” and mindful that Leslie and Tim will not be departing this community, we want to celebrate Leslie and her innumerable gifts to us before folks scatter for the summer.

Please plan to attend worship that day, and join us for a special Coffee Hour reception from 10-11:00.  The Vestry invites you to give toward a purse—an expression of our great gratitude and love for Leslie and her ministry among us.  Let us bless and send Leslie into this new season with a generous financial outpouring to send Leslie with our love into the season of retirement.  

Click here to make a financial gift to Leslie

Amidst these many celebrations, we will also remember dear ones from among us who have died. The service for Virginia Rouffy, who died on Easter Monday, will be next Friday May 8 at 2:00pm.  We also learn that our beloved friend and brother Dan Bagwell died on Tuesday of this week.  A service for Dan will be on July 11 at 2:00pm.

Please remember their families and all in their circles of care in your prayers.

From the mountaintops of jubilation to the valley of the shadow of death, we walk together in the gift of one another in this community.

With you,

Scott+
The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector