4 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: ⁴ there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

¹¹ He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-14 NRSVue)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

Congratulations in this exciting point in your congregational life. All three congregations passed the Parish Agreement at their respective annual meetings. We now step forward onto the next leg of our journey together. Like all things new and different, it will have moments of excitement and moments are anxiety. It is okay to be both excited and apprehensive. We haven’t done it this way before. We are heading into uncharted territory – that is both exhilarating and angst-ridden.

We remember we are part of a larger journey. While we are beginning a new leg of our journey, this journey was begun by others thousands of years ago. It is also a journey that will continue until the second coming of Christ. Many have journeyed prior to us. Many will journey after us. All of those journeys join together into a broader journey. “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12) We all serve the common purpose of making disciples.

We also remember that God is in control. The prophet Isaiah delivered this promise the exiles, “I will lead the blind by a road they do not know; by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16) God makes that same promise to this new parish. Our prayer that ‘God’s will be done’ applies just as much to our ministry together as it does in our individual lives or the world.

Recently someone was describing ropes she had strung throughout their home when her husband lost his sight. These ropes helped guide him and remember where he was and how to get where he was going. They gave him a sense of independence and confidence. In many ways, God gives us ropes to grasp when we feel like we are unsure or apprehensive about where we are or where we are going. The most obvious examples of those ropes are the Holy Spirit, community, and God’s Word. Together we are guided by God along this journey.

We also remember that we are blessed to be a blessing. All three congregations have been blessed for the purpose “to equip the larger body for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ.” All of the individuals within the three congregations have been blessed for that same purpose. God blesses us with ropes to guide us. God gives us the strength and courage to follow where God leads us. God fills us with the Holy Spirit. God feeds and nourishes us all as we journey together. Together we proclaim Christ’s love and hope.

The grace and peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.