“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude…” 1 Corinthians 13:4

Dear Friends:

The other day someone asked me about my leadership style. A lot of study has gone into leadership style over the past decade or so. It seems that these days effective leadership comes from cultivating and building community. Communities where folks truly want to belong and feel valued as they share their ideas, their skill sets, their spiritual gifts. Effective communities are those folks who collectively innovate, offer their slice of the pie, are willing to explore, and sometimes bump up against one another. Effective, innovative communities find strength in civil discourse, in problem solving, and together digging in to get the work done that accomplishes the goal. Leaders of effective communities are often seen as coming up from behind rather than pulling from up front. Anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela is quoted as saying: “a leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.” Jesus, often seen as a shepherd, leads from behind. This is the work of ministry. Together, we are the flock, a team; a collective body, about the mission of making God’s world known here and now, on this corner, in the neighborhood and beyond.

On Sunday January 20th you elected a new group of leaders to complement your already exceptional vestry. One member of the new class, Dave Parkerton, will serve for one year as the liaison to Buildings and Grounds. Five others, Anne Johnson, Heather Modzelweski, Krissy Goff, Jonathan Isner, and Elizabeth Gilmore are serving three year terms. Bob Otten was elected unanimously by the vestry on Monday evening this week to serve a one year term. As we say farewell to our current vestry class, Don Brill, Keola Nosaka, Melissa Woodhead, Ryan Hale, and those needing to take an early exit, Ben Eckman, Michelle Walter and Doug Hansen, we give thanks for their outstanding leadership. The recently elected seven new vestry leaders will accompany an equally outstanding existing team of Susan Buckner, Richard Durkin, Susan Forbes, Scott Meyer and Elaine Perry. Elaine Perry and Richard Durkin were elected by unanimous vestry vote to serve as senior warden and junior warden respectively. This twelve member team represents you, your concerns, and your hopes as you go out ahead. They are leaders who will be intentional about encouraging you to share your gifts participating in the ministries of Epiphany. When invited, say yes to serving with Outreach; Children Youth and Family; Worship and Music; Parish Life (fellowship, shepherding groups, newcomers and adult formation) or Administration/Operations (communications, finance, budget and tellers).

Remember a few weeks back, when celebrating Epiphany, you very effectively wrote on colored paper what you will be giving to Jesus this year. Over these past weeks, we’ve been publishing your offerings. The following are some ways to serve in ministry with your vestry shepherd leaders as your gift to Jesus:

“I’m going to give Jesus the gift of giving.” “Learn new ways to serve at Epiphany through the Altar Guild ministry.” “Will attend worship faithfully.” “I will make new friends in Sunday School.” “Tolerance.” “Be kinder. Give back more (time and money). Listen more.” “An increased, more focused commitment to the service of others.”

On Sunday, in 10:00 a.m. worship, we’ll officially install the new vestry class. Over the next few weeks, as each vestry person comes to discern how God is calling them to lead, we’ll ask them to serve in pairs as liaisons to the various ministry groupings of Epiphany. Ask your vestry leadership how you can serve, and share your many gifts. Also on Sunday, with 8:30 a.m. worship and 10:00 a.m. family worship, we’ll hear from the apostle Paul again as he continues to caution the church at Corinth. Regardless of who we are as the church, if we do not have love, we are but “a noisy going or a clanging cymbal.” Celebrate, good friends. As we embrace our vestry leadership, and accept invitations to grow deeper in our relationship with God and with one another as Epiphany, may we do so first and foremost through love.

You are a remarkable flock and it is my joy to walk along with you in this ministry of Epiphany.

With love,

Hillary