From the Pastor

September 2009

As some of you will recall, when I first came to Holy Redeemer, I tried to visit as many individuals and families as possible. I enjoyed those visits, as they gave me a chance to get to know more about many of the members.

Some of you are new to our congregation in more recent times, and so I did not have this opportunity with you, beyond our conversation about the congregation and your lives when you first began to worship with us and as you became members.

Unfortunately, for many reasons, these kinds of visits are not a regular part of my schedule. This is due in part to all the other demands on my time, and also due to reactions I sometimes have received when I have asked if I could visit: "We cannot give anymore;" "We just cannot always be in worship." Such things are not foremost in my mind when I drop a note, when I call to see how people are, or when I ask to visit (I generally just want to know how people are), but often people seem to feel there is an agenda when a pastor wants to come to call during times other than significant life events such as births, illnesses, weddings, or deaths. I have been blessed and honored to be part of many conversations when you have been in the midst of these significant times in your lives, and I treasure the trust you have for me in this respect.

I have also enjoyed the times when you have sought me out and invited me to your homes or for coffee for some casual conversation. I would like to take some time over the next few months to do this more "unstructured" kind of visiting in an intentional way, so that we can continue to grow and develop our relationships and look to the future together.

I know that people are busy and have many demands on time. I have no desire to be intrusive or to be a burden to your schedules, so I will simply extend this general invitation here, and ask that if you are open to me visiting you and/or your family (perhaps for coffee before work, for lunch, for a walk, for an evening visit), you will take the time to indicate such on the attendance insert the weekends of 5 /6 and 12/13 September. This will give me a good place to start, so that I can begin to see what will fit with everyone‘s schedule. I simply want to give us all a chance to have conversation—about anything and everything.

If you are open to such a visit, please know that it will take some time for me to set up times and see everyone. Your patience will be appreciated!

If you choose not to indicate openness for me to visit, I understand. There will be no judgment, no speculation as to motive, and no hard feelings. I do hope that you will know, however, that the invitation is always open.

You will also have a chance for group conversation with me and others about Holy Redeemer during the Adult Class in October (please see the piece about this later in the newsletter.)

I hope that many of you will take advantage of one or both of these opportunities, as we continue to grow to and for Christ together.

In Christ,
Pastor Brenda