Dear All Saints' Family,

Over the summer Fr. Dan called us to 40 days of prayer asking God for clarity of our mission, that each of us find our place in this mission, and for provision for the resources needed to fulfill our mission. A few months ago, the vestry discerned a new vision statement, and now we are praying about what God would have us do in order to fulfill it. Some may be wondering why all of this is necessary.

Back in 1997 the leadership of All Saints’ produced a profile for the Rector search that outlined the state of the parish and the direction the parish wished to go. There were specific goals such as increased awareness of evangelism, outreach, and ministry of the laity. There was also a mandate to do what is called “parallel development”-- developing new ministries and services to reach to young families and youth while maintaining existing programs and ongoing parish life.

What drew me to All Saints’ was the honesty and challenge in the profile. Over the past six plus years we have accomplished many of these goals. We have come a long way in the transition from a pastoral style parish to a program style parish. Gifted lay leaders are doing much of the ministry. Our building and grounds have been revitalized, repaired, and maintained, making them more appealing and useful. We have added staff, grown in many ways, and are a reasonably healthy congregation.

The question for us is now what? I believe that God has blessed us over these years and allowed us to grow for a purpose. The greatest danger for us is to think that our work is done. We risk the danger of complacence and regression if we do not continually seek the will of God for our common mission and ministry. It’s time we discern together what God’s will is for us to further His Kingdom now that the preparation work has been done. It is a fact that about every six or seven years a congregation must reassess its common life and establish new goals in order to stay vibrant and resist the temptation to fall into the malaise of maintenance.

Over the next months the leadership of All Saints’ will be called upon to evaluate our current situtaton and to look forward to new direction. All of this is so God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Christ,

Fr. David