Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, p. 100

Dear Friends,

As we begin the fall activities, I think of the above collect from the Morning Prayer service.  After the summer lull, I am always thrilled to see so many members of Mediator embracing their vocations and ministry through our parish in teaching Sunday School, serving as a youth mentor, being a sponsor for a Confirmand, singing in the Choir, preparing for the CROP Walk, visiting people who are homebound or sick, serving at the soup kitchen, volunteering at JFK (our after-school program for Raub Middle School kids), helping with the services through Altar Guild, ushers, greeters, acolytes and crucifers, lectors, and Lay Eucharistic Ministers, serving on commissions and committees, taking classes, praying, worshiping God...  Although there is a lot of ministry that goes on throughout the summer it is exciting when the parish goes back into full gear.

The ministry of lay people is exercised primarily outside the church, in jobs, homes, and neighborhoods.  So I am grateful for the generous way that members of our parish extend their ministry through what you offer in our church.  I hope that you feel the guidance and support of the Holy Spirit in your vocation and ministry, and that you feel appreciated by our parish as well.

If you would like to explore a new ministry within our parish, I hope that you will look over our booklet, You, Your Time and Talents: Where Do You Fit In? which lists our various ministries and opportunities for fellowship and learning providing information about who to contact to get involved.  (The booklet is available in the church, on the Website at episcopalmediator.org or we can send it to you electronically.)  Here are some ideas: The Sunday School teachers have expressed a desire for people other than parents of young children to join them in ministry with our children. So if you don't have kids, or your kids are grown, and you are looking for a way to interact with kids, talk to Ellen Switzer, or swing by our Sunday School classrooms and see what's happening.  Nanette Smith, who is a teacher at Northampton Community College by vocation, is sharing her teaching ministry with us on Thursday nights, and you may want to join her class.  The Outreach Commission is considering a new initiative to provide a supportive relationship to a formerly homeless person who is now in an apartment, through the ministry of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches' Homeless Supportive Services, so you may feel called to take part in this new ministry. 

There's information about these and other ministries in the Media-rite.  You can learn more on Rally Sunday, September 12, at 9:00 a.m., as well, and I hope everyone will be there to kick off the fall activities.  As you read and learn I hope that you will be guided by the Holy Spirit to know how to serve God and God's people even more deeply through your vocation and ministry.

Faithfully,                             

                             Maria