May 3, 2020 – Important Parish Message
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we celebrate the Great Fifty Days of Easter with the sweet refrain, “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,” I invite you to ponder the meaning of that phrase. Translated, Alleluia means “Praise be to God!” Our parish has weathered a fair amount of change the past two years, but I praise God that you have cheerfully kept St. John’s flourishing during this interim time. You have said, “Here I Am,” and I say, “Alleluia!” We are indeed a people of hope and new beginnings.
With bittersweetness, I share my own new beginning. I have accepted a call to be the Senior Associate at Trinity Church in the city of Boston. It has been my pleasure, and such a blessing, to serve St. John’s Episcopal Church for the past 11 years. I’m deeply grateful to have begun my ministry as a priest in this parish, serving with each of you in this vineyard. I grew up in a military family, which makes this the longest I have lived in one place. Rob and I have relished our time here, and each of you has made this space feel like home. St. John’s is our family.
As our parish has moved through this holy “in-between time,” it has been my extreme honor to serve as your Interim Rector. My last Sunday at St. John’s will be June 19. While the parish will remain in an interim period for a bit longer, Bishop Howard and I are both confident that St. John’s will thrive in the capable hands of clergy and leaders like Mahaska Whitley, senior warden; Stephen Peters, junior warden; and Laurye Messer and Martin Proctor, your Rector Search Committee chairs.
In addition, there are countless parishioners who are truly the engine that keeps St. John’s moving. From the altar guild to the café to outreach, education, and more, this parish is healthy because so many of you have accepted the call of the Holy Spirit to selflessly serve this church and our community, and for that I am so thankful.
I am excited about what’s in store for St. John’s. Working in partnership with Bishop Howard and diocesan leaders, you will keep the process moving forward and enter a new chapter in ministry.
God is here in our midst and will continue to guide us along this path. Alleluia!
Blessings,
Mtr. Abi Moon, Interim Rector
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
As we look forward to a new and exciting time in the life of St. John’s, we must also accept that change is a part of God’s plan. But that does not make it any less difficult to say goodbye to those whom we hold dear. This is especially true with Mother Abi Moon.
Since joining our clergy team in 2011, Abi has been such an inspiration to St. John’s. Her preaching, teaching, warm pastoral care, and incredible organizational gifts have made a lasting impact on our parish. Abi’s humor, hard work, and spiritual guidance have also been such a blessing over this past year, as she stepped forward without hesitation to serve as St. John’s Interim Rector.
We can’t thank Mother Abi enough for the love she has shown our parish. It has been a blessing to watch her grow from her ordination in our sanctuary to our parish leader. Thanks to her positive influence, St. John’s Episcopal Church is thriving and in an ideal place to welcome new leadership.
Last week, Martin Proctor and Laurye Messer, our Rector Search Committee chairs, shared that we are getting very close to calling St. John’s next parish rector. The committee has narrowed the field to three candidates and feels confident we will find the priest God has chosen for St. John’s. The Search Committee prays this individual will be called by the end of June. Please keep the committee and the three candidates in your prayers.
We do look forward to our new leadership but let us also embrace the next couple of months, so we can celebrate Mother Abi’s long-time ministry at St. John’s. Stay tuned for details.
In the meantime, I invite you to join me in congratulating Abi and Rob and wishing them the best of luck as they begin this next chapter. They will certainly need new winter coats for the city of Boston!
Yours faithfully,
Mahaska Whitley, Senior Warden
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
