Fall is fast approaching!

Dearly Beloved,
By the time you receive this, I will be on my way to Minnesota to visit my dear friend from seminary, Rev. Mariah Tollgaard, whom you heard preach at my installation in February. This will be my last Sunday away before our regular fall programming kicks off, and then you’ll be stuck with me through Christmas!
Though I will not be with you in body this Sunday, I will be worshipping with you online because I’m so excited to hear Rev. Dr. Sarah Allen preach this Sunday. Dr. Allen is the Director of the Doctor of Ministry and Supervised Practice of Ministry programs at Austin Seminary and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church, USA. We have been blessed to have her family of 5 worshipping with us these past months and to have them as part of our community.
Speaking of community, I’m so excited for our fall sermon series on community, and the community we will be building in our small groups. After hours of logistical gymnastics by Jan Austin-Scott and Mark Simoneau, we just have a few final details to confirm, but we can tell you that:

1. There will be 4 small groups this fall for which you can sign up/RSVP for at church or by email.
2. Groups will gather every other week at a variety of days and times, in homes, for the fall semester (September - December). 
3. Each group will be given resources, including “conversation cards” that coincide with our sermon series on community titled, “I’ve Been Meaning to Ask.” (These cards will also be used in an Adult Faith Formation class after worship each Sunday facilitated by yours truly. Childcare provided.)
4. At the conclusion of the semester, we will evaluate various possibilities for small groups for the Spring Semester.

I hope you put this sermon series into action this fall by trying out a small group! It is through our life together that we model and build the Kin-dom of God.
Much heart,
Rev. Anna