It is with great joy we bring the news to those that have not heard yet that the vestry has offered and Rev. Ben Capps has accepted the position of Full-time Rector here at St. Andrew’s. The process took over a year to complete and was fully endorsed, overseen and blessed by the diocese and Bishop Gutierrez. Personally, I am so thankful to have completed this process before I leave as Rector's Warden next month. Having started this process with the vestry team, I was happy to be part of its completion. It was something that the entire vestry was hoping for and working extra time to complete. The process was tedious and complicated with COVID involved but we were able to recognize unanimously that Ben was the right fit for St Andrew’s based upon past experiences, his answers during the interview process and the feedback we received from many of you during this process. In fact, we were asked many times as a vestry – “what are you waiting for?”.
Again, please join me in welcoming Ben, his wife, Bekah, and their children, Margot, Julian, and Asa, to the St. Andrew’s family. It was even more special when we found out that the Sunday we made this announcement to the congregation was also Ben’s birthday!
Ben will officially start January 1st as the new Full Time Rector with an installation service to be held sometime in February. Due to COVID the diocese is behind in some of its processes and procedures. We are waiting for Canon Arlette to get back to us with a date. Once we get that date, we will make the announcement.
Thanks again for those that attended the Town Hall meetings we held earlier this month. We appreciated the comments – compliments - complaints. We will address the ones that were relevant and timely. We have some larger and more important tasks to complete first. Overall, we all agree that we should hold them more frequently.
Since we are still in the holiday season, I found the words of a familiar Christmas song very stirring. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned these words:
“And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on Earth, I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on Earth, good will to men"
Longfellow was coming out of a sad season with the loss of both his wives not very far apart – one while giving birth and the other in a tragic accident where she was burned. He had questioned his God…Then we hear in a later verse my favorite part of the song the realization that God is in control..
“Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is NOT dead, nor doth he sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on Earth, good will to men.
Open up your hearts and hear them (peace on earth)
I heard the bells on Christmas day!"
Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2022!
Lee
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