On Grace Street: The New In the Now
Of the essential things we know about God, one is that God is eternally generative, forever creative, always creating. "Behold, I am about to do a new thing!," God declares through his prophet Isaiah. So it has been from the beginning--indeed, it is the very first thing we are told about God, in Genesis--and, in every generation, God gives birth to the new.
I often say to people, with a smile, "Well, it's a new day!" (Often I say this to someone who is apologizing for not having darkened the doors of St. Paul's in a while.) This is not merely simple (or simplistic) good cheer. It is an assertion of our basic and abiding faith in a God who is always bringing about the new in our midst, always offering up to us the new in the now, if you will.
Well, not only is it a new day, it is a new year.
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Before leaning into the new year, however, I'd like to offer just a few thoughts on the one just behind us. First and foremost, in addition to thanking God, I want to thank you, with all my heart, for our first year together. And I must say, there is no way that I have possibly thanked you enough for either of the following: all the ways that you have welcomed and loved me and my family; and all the ways that you have let me become your pastor and your partner in ministry. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And my sincere apologies for any particular thank-you's for which I am particularly remiss. I am sure there are some, even many.
And, while I am apologizing, I want to apologize sincerely for whatever ways I have let you down in the last year. Whether it is not getting back to you, or not following through in some way that you had expected me to, I do apologize. Whatever it is--perhaps that I'm not yet the preacher that you were hoping for in the new rector--again, I am sorry. I want to assure you that in the year ahead, and in the years ahead, I will do everything I possibly can, with prayer, and with the help of God, and with your help, to be the priest, and pastor, and friend, and brother in Christ, that God would have me be, and that you need me to be.
Thank you. And I'm sorry. In my short life I have come to believe that those are two of the most important things to say. Along with, I love you.
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Now, looking ahead into the new year, it is hard to know where to start, in terms of the things that come to mind, the things for which I give great thanks, ahead of time: Living into our Such Great Heights vision together--refreshing and renewing our worship; strengthening and deepening our sense of community through small groups; setting out in earnest on the adventure developing a mission to those living downtown; and many other things. I also think about the Inauguration Day Prayer Service (plans for which are still coming together); the Investiture of Bishop Shannon at St. Paul's; our Lenten Preaching Series, including Jack Spong and Jim Forbes, formerly of Riverside Church, in New York City; and our calling a new Minister of Music.
Above all, however, what I look forward to is our becoming together yet more truly and fully the beloved community of disciples that God calls us to be, beloved by God, living together in authentic community, and witnessing in new and renewed ways to the love of God in downtown Richmond and beyond. It is a new year, it is a new day, and the Living God is doing a new thing, right here on Grace Street.
I thank God. And I thank you.
With love, your brother in Christ,
Wallace+
