Dear Faith Des Peres Church Family,
By now you have hopefully heard the news that I have accepted a new call serving Trinity Presbyterian Church in University City. It has been a joy and privilege to serve with you during your transitional journey this past year and I am going to miss you so very much! But as I said from the beginning my number one job as your transitional pastor is to work myself back out of a job. I serve for a time and a season and as your Pastor Nominating Committee is interviewing potential pastor candidates you are actually already in a new time and season. I have every confidence that you will soon welcome your new pastor, and in the meantime the Session has contracted with the Rev. Carol DeVaughan to serve with you until your new pastor arrives. My last Sunday with you will be February 9 and my last day in the office will be February 13. I hope to have the opportunity to say farewell to each of you between now and then.
This Sunday, January 26 my sermon message will be “Being Called to Adventure” from Matthew 4:12-23, which is the story of Jesus calling some of his first disciples.
This Sunday is also our bi-monthly Disciples Gathering with Clare Dingus.
Looking ahead our first Food Outreach packing morning is February 1. Please look for a sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space.
We will observe the Souper Bowl of Caring on Sunday on February 2.
Also on Sunday, February 2 we will welcome the First Presbyterian, Kirkwood confirmation class to worship, and my spouse, the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery Leader Craig Howard and I are planning to co-lead the service.
February 6 is the next Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Gathering from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at St. Mark Presbyterian Church. The presbytery’s Dismantling Racism and Privilege Team will lead a pre-session that morning and guest speaker the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Harvey will preach and lead a plenary on her book Dear White Christians that afternoon.
I look forward to seeing you in and around our church as we share in mission and ministry together!
Shalom in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Marilyn