On this cold January evening, I am thinking how eager I am for tomorrow- Sunday, January 22, when we will share together in our service of Holy Eucharist at 10am and then a delicious luncheon and our annual meeting immediately following. We will do important and necessary work of our parish there such as elect vestry members and delegates to diocesan convention, but it’s far more than that in my eyes. It is a time to gather together and celebrate this past year of being a loving and active community, a year in which you prepared yourselves to welcome a new clergy/spiritual leader- and now here we are! I am going to ask you to share your favorite memory of St. Matthew’s, your current place of gratitude, and a hope you have for the future on posters so we can hear and remember each other’s stories, which matters so much to our life together. And I even have a small present for you- imagine! Please do come if you can- I will be so glad to see each one of you.

I am so glad to be meeting more of you all the time and have conversations where we get to know each other- please do stop by on my office day (Tuesdays, about 11am to 4:30 or so) or we’ll make an appointment for a time that suits you! On Thursday, January 25, I have clergy meetings in the area till around two pm, and so I’ll be at the church that afternoon as well. I’ve also begun to have some pastoral visits and that is such a blessing to me.

Please know you are always close in my prayers and love. It is a gift to share this season of life and ministry together, and I am really leaning into the joy it is bringing me.

The Reverend Dina Carter Ishler