Thanks be to God!

To my new friends at St. Andrews on the Sound,

My family and I have officially been Wilmingtonians for a whopping twelve days, and I have been your Rector for just two-and-a-half. Already, we are thankful. I am enjoying my new office — complete with beautiful bookshelves, furnishings, and a new coat of paint — as well as getting to know the wonderful staff who faithfully serve this parish, our neighbors on our street, and the best way to get to Walmart. Kimberly and I are delighted to be back in North Carolina, and we have felt incredibly welcomed by everyone, whether we’ve met you face-to-face or not. I just wish the heat and humidity didn’t make my glasses fog up every time I go outside.

St. Paul begins his letter to the Romans by saying, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world.” This is a remarkable statement because while Paul had personally planted churches and knew the people in Corinth, Philippi, and Thessalonica, he had not done so in Rome. He had only heard about them, their faith, their faithfulness, and their service, and yet he thanked God for them and for what God was doing in and through them.

That is very much how I feel about all of you. I have only met a few of you in person, but already, I know about your faith, your faithfulness, and your service to the community. I have seen pictures online of your joyful gatherings; I have read about your work with groups like Meals on Wheels and Good Shepherd; I have listened to your Christ-centered sermons; and I have experienced your hospitality through cards, letters, and Facebook chats. Thus, I give great thanks to God for you and for what God is doing in and through you. I cannot wait to shake your hand on Sunday.

I am also thankful for how much God has blessed St. Andrews through the ministries of Fathers Richard, Gary, and Michael, as well as your curates, staffs, vestries, and volunteers. To say that I am honored and humbled to get to serve as your new Rector would be a great truth but also a tremendous understatement. Please pray for me just as I am praying for you. I am confident that God will continue the great work He has already begun here, helping us all grow in grace, faith, service, and love together and ensuring that the Good News of Jesus Christ will bring great hope and joy to us and the people around us. And for that, we can all say, “Thanks be to God!”