Dear Friends,

I will be away the five Sundays in July on medical leave, but rest assured that you are in good hands and in great care with our supply clergy. The best way that you can help me during this time is to continue to worship on Sundays by supporting our visiting clergy and continuing with your fellowship and care of one another. Please see the following bios and Sundays that these great priests will be serving. I look forward to hearing them myself!

If you have a pastoral need, please contact the church office or Gunnar Kohlbeck, Senior Warden. Gunnar will be in touch with you to have a Stephen Minister provide care or will get in touch with one of our clergy on call for assistance. I look forward to seeing you all in August.

Blessings,
Gini+

Please welcome our July Supply Clergy

July 2 & July 23:
The Rev. Andie Rohrs has been in the Diocese of Southern Virginia since 2009 where she recently ended her term as President of the Standing Committee. In her last position, Andie had the privilege of serving as the Associate Rector at St. Andrew’s, Norfolk, where she oversaw parish life, pastoral care, and family ministry. She and her family relocated to Richmond in September. She is married to The Rev. John Rohrs and is the mother of Anna, Tom, and Will.

July 9 & July 16:
The Rev. Glenn Chalmers led urban parishes and outreach ministries in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Chicago and New York. His ordained ministry began by building a congregation in an empty inner city church in one of the poorest neighborhoods in New Jersey. As Rector of Grace Church, Lawrence, MA, he initiated services in Spanish and today the parish hosts the only parochial school for low-income Latinas in the Episcopal Church. Serving as Executive Director of Cathedral Shelter of Chicago, Fr. Glenn opened a 27-unit supportive housing complex for homeless people and families recovering from addiction. He retired after serving as Rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Manhattan, while also being Executive Director of its soup kitchen, the second largest on-site feeding program in the country serving 1,000 people every weekday. After retirement, his ministry continued as interim and served parishes in Rome, Italy and Mexico. With two sisters living in the Richmond area and being a history buff, he is happily a frequent visitor to Virginia.

July 30:
The Rev. Canon James Drinard Smith is a retired Episcopal priest and attends Manakin regularly. Jim served in the Diocese of Virginia, Southern Virginia, Northwest Pennsylvania, Eastern North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia before retiring in 2003. After retiring, he served as Transitional Pastor/Vacancy Consultant for the Diocese of Southern Virginia at St. Stephens, Petersburg; St. Michael’s, Bon Air; Christ Church, Amelia and St. Michael’s, Colonial Heights. Jim also served on the Diocesan Executive Board, Youth Ministry Coordinator; Summer Camp Programs; President Chanco Board of Trustees; Parish Consultant, The Educational Center, St. Louis; Faculty, Diocese of Southern Virginia School of Ministry Formation (Church History, Liturgics, Christian Ethics and Moral Theology). Jim and his late wife, Gerry, have two sons and two granddaughters.

Dear Friends,

My personality profile is one that tends to like order and keeping to things as scheduled. The downside to this, of course, is that it does not allow for flexibility. Recently, a friend of mine, The Rev. Elizabeth Felicetti, wrote an article entitled “Learning to Live in Pencil”. While going through her medical treatment she is having to change plans and activities on a regular basis due to how she feels on a given day. I am trying to learn how to live in pencil and be more available and flexible with my calendar.

My first challenge with this is coming up soon. As you know, I have been planning sabbatical time for July. We have everything in order from supply clergy to pastoral care coverage. Thankfully all of this is in place because I have recently found out that I will need to change my time away from sabbatical to medical leave.

With the vestry’s approval, I will postpone my sabbatical time to next year. I will have routine surgery to repair an issue that is not life-threatening on July 3. My doctor assures me that I will be able to return in early August, fully healed.

You can help me during this time by praying for the medical team providing my care and for my home health provider, Phil! Any pastoral issues during this time will be handled by our clergy on call and our fabulous Stephen Ministry team. Please continue to come to Sunday services and support our great supply clergy who are lined up for the month.

Going forward, I will attempt to write in pencil with a good eraser. I truly appreciate your love and support.

Blessings,
Gini+

Dear Friends,

“Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we must be saved by love.” – Reinhold Niebuhr

I was recently reminded of the Jewish practice of posting a doorpost scroll (Mezuzah) containing scripture from Deuteronomy. The Biblical passages from the Torah form part of the Shema Prayer that are written on a small scroll and put in a container, many times very ornate, and posted by the door. The residents of the household are reminded of their obligations toward God as they enter and exit the home. Those who pass by the house know that those who live there are of the Jewish faith and practice their beliefs. There are so many Jewish traditions that form the foundation of our faith that I wish we observed as Christians. The Mezuzah is one of those.

If someone was to enter our home, would they know that we are Christians? Do we have crosses, pictures or readings posted to remind us of our obligations toward God? I visited a friend who moved to a new home not long ago and on her table was the above quote from Reinhold Niebuhr. It touched me as a remembrance that faith, hope and love are the basis for our belief as Christians. This writing serves as a daily reminder to my friend of her dependence on Christ as her savior.

We remain in the liturgical season of Easter during the month of May that ends on the 28th with Pentecost. As we continue to experience the resurrected Christ in our lives, what are our daily practices or reminders as we come and go from our homes of Jesus’ sacrifice for us? As our neighbors visit or pass by, do they know we are Christians?

I would love to hear about your household practices of faith.

Blessings,
Gini+