Faithful Friends,
As usual there is much going on at Faith Church and many ways to serve and be served. We are also reminded as we are active in our outward faith of service and the pursuit of justice, to take quiet time apart to tend to our inward faith and rejuice our minds and bodies.
As we do, we are then able to give from the abundance of what we have and our connection with God rather than draining ourselves, which serves no one well. We are no good to others when we are not good to ourselves and when we do love ourselves enough to tend to our own needs, we have so much more to give!
Our Pastoral Care Team continues to reach out to our family when in need and to visitors who join our services. Please let us know as needs arise.
We will be accepting new members in our congregation at the May 16th Worship Service and hope you will attend and join in sharing vows of covenant promise with them as the newest members of our family.
Our members are active with KIVA Microloans, Texas Impact, the Refugee Network, SOS Food Bank, Theology on Tap gatherings, Social Gatherings, and so very much more.
This month we will celebrate Mother’s Day, Pentecost, graduations, college admissions, championship playoffs, work promotions, successful healthcare outcomes, and Scout accomplishments. We will also sit with those waiting for answers that cannot come quickly enough for the struggles of their hearts, minds, and bodies or concerns for those they love. God, in your mercy, hear our prayers!
A few other events and updates of note:
New Braunfels Pride is coming June 26th from 11a-5p at Landa Park. Mark your calendars and plan to participate in whatever way feels safe to you and your family. If you would like to become a sponsor of this event, please contact the organizers through FB @RiversidePrideTX or their website at https://www.riversidepridetx.org Faith has been a long-time supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, dignity, and inclusion and we will continue to support the growing New Braunfels Pride community in whatever ways we can!
Slumber Falls Summer Camp Registration is now open!! Our denomination’s camp is just down River Road and is for children, youth and adults. Most of our Faith Church family have been to camp or served as counselors at Slumber Falls and have generations of fond memories of connection with God and each other while there. Please share this information with those you know and consider camp for the young ones in your life. https://slumberfalls.org/
We will be gathering persons to help with our Music Minister Search and also resume meetings of our Settled Pastor Search Committee in the next few weeks. Please pray that God helps us discern exactly what Faith Church needs in both positions and lead us to just the right fit for where God wants to take Faith Church in the next chapter of our lives together.
You will be hearing more about the non-profit, Serve Spot, in the weeks to come as Faith Church combines efforts with this local group that partners area churches with community needs. I’ve met with Kim Francis, their executive director, and she is assisting in connecting us with others to help market and provide blessers for the Blessing of the Hands June 7th. More to come in the weekly worship guide announcements and next months Glimpses of Faith. For now, you can learn more at https://servespot.org/ where you can see their amazing promo video!
The Faith Church COVID Committee continues to meet to plan what resuming in-person in-doors worship will look like in terms of timing and process. We want to be good stewards of our people’s spiritual and emotional needs and also their safety, especially with so many elders and children in our midst. As the number of those vaccinated continues to grow, as more of our children are able to get the protection of the vaccine, and as numbers of cases continue to decline, we are itching to resume our in-person connection.
We ask for your prayers for God’s guidance as we undertake this delicate task. We know some are ready to begin now. Others are much more hesitant. We know there are strong feelings and much fear and impatience that can arise. But we will do as we have always done as Faith Church and face this as an opportunity for us to pull together and find a common path that serves all our needs AND get us back together as quickly as possible in the weeks to come.
We want to make as certain as possible that once we return to worship together we will be able to continue gathering and not need to go back to virtual worship only. We will, however, continue to broadcast our services via Zoom and/or social media in what is being called hybrid worship, and covet your prayers and even financial support for our preparation to have a strong tech team of more than 2 or 3 to take on this challenging task.
WHEW!! There is a lot going on. Please pray for me, Pastor Janet, and for your elected leaders on the Faith Church Council that we be given strength and endurance, wisdom and clarity, and know clearly exactly what God most wants us to do and when and how to do it to make Faith Church a strong, healthy, vibrant witness of God’s inclusive love and justice in our community and our world. As you do, please know that daily I pray for each of you.
Peace,
Pastor Carla
