Three Month Check in from Interim Pastor Kirsten
November 19, 2021
Dear St Matthew’s Family,
I’m enjoying this change of seasons, even if the cold mornings bring a surprising chill. The brilliant colors of the leaves, the crispness of the air, the reminder that life is full of seasons, one forever leading to the next. Whether one season announces itself with brilliantly colored leaves or sneaks up on us with steadily declining sunlight, the seasons come upon us, nonetheless. This season of transition will have many seasons within it as well. Seasons of welcome and work, seasons of question and clarity, seasons of healing and goodbye. To people, to ideas, to plans. And all along the way of finding St Matthew’s current direction, identity and purpose.
We’ve seen many changes around staffing the office already. We announced a couple months ago that our Church Administrator would be leaving us to relocate to Florida. Nancy’s last day in the office will be December 9, her last Sunday with us will be December 5. We will acknowledge her work and departure that day with a reception following the service. When Nancy announced her departure some became a bit concerned about how the transition would go but I am happy to say that the ultimate timing of the transition could not have been more perfect. We will be welcoming a new Administrative Assistant to the Pastor on November 29. Nine days of overlap to help pass the torch from one season of support to the next.
We also welcomed Danielle Feielin our new Day School Director on November 1. Kathy Lundgren had been leading the Day School in the Interim time between our last director. This month of November Kathy and Danielle are working together in a dual directorship as they work to transition leadership and management tasks of the Day School. On December 1, Kathy will resume her role as Assistant Director and Danielle will start full leadership of the Day School. Danielle will attend worship this Sunday and we will introduce her to the congregation. Make sure to welcome her!
The process of assembling transition and call committees is underway. The council deliberated about the shape and membership of the committees and will be reaching out in the next week or two to connect with those named to confirm their interest and availability to serve. I imagine by the time of the Congregational meeting we will announce the membership of at least the transition team. The work of the transition team will be the work of understanding identity, history, leadership, denominational connection, and future hopes/direction of this congregation. It is my hope that this work is not only clarifying but healing and restorative.
This Sunday we will be welcoming three new families into St Matthew’s Membership. This is exciting and a bit of hopefulness in this season. After worship we will have a reception to welcome them. I hope everyone will plan to stay and share a word of welcome!
This Sunday is also the last Sunday in the church calendar year. We celebrate Christ the King Sunday and close out the year of telling the story of Christ only to jump into Advent the following week and bring ourselves wholly into the already and not yet part of our faith, where we wait for Jesus to come and come again. Join us for a season of special worship opportunities starting on November 24 at 7:30 for our Thanksgiving Eve service and the much-anticipated pie social.
I continue to be thankful for being here at St Matthew’s with you all. What a privilege to walk and sometimes run alongside! Continue to know I am here and open for questions and conversation whether you have been here a long time, just arrived or are not sure know to join in or join in again. Bless this place with your presence, you are most welcome!
Grace and Peace to you all,
Interim Pastor Kirsten Laderach
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