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The Vicar’s Viewpoint
Sometimes when I don’t know what to expect or am feeling unprepared, I dress up. If you don’t know what to wear to an event, I was taught it was always better to err on the side of dressing up, rather than going casual. You can always take off a sportcoat, but if you show up in flip-flops and everyone else is in heels, you might feel out of place.
The other thing I tend to do when I don’t know what’s going to happen next or if I’m not quite ready for something is to eat. Usually a cookie. Or a handful of chips, or the whole bag.
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. We Episcopalians joke that we don’t quite know how to talk about the Holy Spirit. The very conversation makes us anxious, and when we do start talking about it, we don’t know what to expect. Of course, we don’t have anything to be afraid of. The Holy Spirit brings us new life! The Holy Spirit brings joy and celebration and fire and energy and even wisdom. The catch is that the Holy Spirit usually catches me by surprise, in unexpected ways and times.
So, let’s dress up and eat sweets. Wear something red and stick around after the 10:15 AM service to have some cake and cookies. We may not be great at talking about the Holy Spirit, but we Episcopalians do know how to dress up and eat. If you aren’t travelling, I hope you’ll join us. (Or you can always watch my sermon later online, but you’ll have to be here in person to get the sweets!)
I also hope you will scroll down and read more about some staffing updates. And make a gift to support the new portraits we’ve commissioned of our church’s founding mothers as well as the Friends of Music Ministry. And put the Bell Concert and Parish Picnic on your calendar and see what else we have in store for Summer Formation and more and more!
Plus the food pantries are in need of pasta sauce, canned meats (chicken, tuna), pasta, rice, canned fruit, dry beans, and toilet paper!
Blessings,
The Rev. Stewart Lucas, Vicar
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een with us since August, is moving into the role of Director of Communications. She has grown in her knowledge and skill set in extraordinary ways: from improving our newsletter to revamping and almost perfecting the Sunday bulletin, to growing our social media presence. Emily has jumped in headfirst to improve our programs and ministries. Rev. Dr. Bill Murray spoke in glowing terms, saying, "Emily has been a gift to our staff and the church since she walked in the door. We are all delighted that she has accepted this increased role with us and plans to be here for years to come!"
Marycelis Otero is due to join us as our new seminarian from Candler School of Theology, and postulant for the Holy Orders of Priesthood. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Marycelis is excited to explore and deepen the connections between the Anglo and Spanish communities that worship at Holy Innocents. She has been working with the Office of Communications of The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta as a Language Specialist, for years, being the interpreter of our Bishop, The Right Rev. Robert Wright, for his publications, including his weekly magazine For Faith, and most recently, ECUSA (the national church), with the creation of curriculums and resources to support the efforts in growing communities. She will begin this summer and share ministry with us for the next two years. Rev. Dr. Bill Murray shared, “Marycelis and I have been dreaming of all sorts of fun ways to connect the Spanish-speaking community of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Holy Innocents. From connecting our children and youth programs to growing in outreach to celebrating big holidays together, the possibilities for working and growing together are endless. Please pray as we seek the Holy Spirit among us in love.”
