Awesome Connection – St. Nick’s News July 25, 2024

Full St. Nick’s News for July 25, 2024

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday, Jeremy and I visited St. Matthew’s Wheelers Hill in the suburbs of Melbourne. We went with his Uncle Tony and Aunt Madge. It is a little Anglican Church with a group of faithful people rebuilding after some challenges.

To name some of the gifts of being part of the Episcopal Church is that we are connected to the Anglican Communion and share a Book of Common Prayer. It is always comforting and encouraging to be in worship some 14,000 kilometers (8500 miles) away and hear similar if not the same, prayers, liturgy, and readings.  As I was sitting in this sanctuary so far away from y’all, I still felt connected through our worship. I took comfort in knowing we would be saying and singing shared prayers so very far away from one another. We would participate in the Lord’s supper, recalling Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and asking God to sanctify (make holy and bless) bread and wine so that we might be strengthened to share the love of Jesus in our world.

And what a big and wonderful world ours is…

We share so much – hurt, brokenness, love, and hope.

As I have met and talked with family, new friends at St. Matthew’s, and a new colleague in faith in the priest at St. Matthew’s, I am in awe of the similarities in worries and concerns for the world, family, and friends. I am also in awe of the stories and works of joy and hope in our lives as well.

In addition to our common worship, St. Matthew’s extended hospitality and welcome. They have a vibrant ministry for missions to others. Their priest shared a sermon asking the congregation to think about what they are building – a church or God’s Kingdom on earth? Naturally, all of these things made me think of St. Nick’s and our work together.

Our hospitality is awesome – y’all it is AWESOME! Your care for visitors and guests – AWESOME! Your care for one another – yep you guessed it – AWESOME! Your care in our neighborhoods and living out your faith – AWESOME! Your invitation to others to join us for special events and ministries – AWESOME! Your care for creation and God’s critters – AWESOME! (Please forgive the overuse of the word AWESOME- I’m on vacation and am too relaxed to find other words. ;-))

Thank you for being a part of St. Nick’s and making it such a special place. Through your work, love, and care, you are making our vision come true – the vision where Everyone is welcome. Everyone is loved. Everyone is empowered. Everyone belongs. Everyone!

Jeremy and I are enjoying this time of rest and inspiration. Thank you for all the work you are doing so that we may have this time. We have seen beautiful sights, met up with family we haven’t seen for years, and have made time for koalas, wallabies, and kangaroos.

We hope you are enjoying some rest and inspiration too. May God fill you and bless you with the knowledge that you are a blessing and totally and utterly AWESOME!

God’s Peace, Love, and Blessings,
Beth+