Dear Friends in Christ,
As your Wardens, we continue to be blessed to be part of the parish of Saint Helen’s and its leadership team, and we delight to share in your walk with Christ and in our Kingdom work. Our shared vision remains to be a Christian family, called by God to excellence, to be a community always known by its love, its inclusiveness and by the light, the peace, the hope and the grace of Christ, shared freely.
Despite a resurgence of COVID-19 sending us back to on-line services, only, and the recent news that Susan+ and Peter+ will be starting a well-deserved retirement from their active ministry amongst us, we sense that the saints of Saint Helen’s remain remarkably upbeat. It is essential that we keep our eyes fixed upon the cross in these tumultuous times.
The Rev. Kay Richardson has agreed to support us with priestly duties until a new incumbent arrives. She will provide the equivalent of three days per week to support core activities. With this in mind, we will need to manage our expectations of Kay+ and not overload her.
We will provide regular updates on our progress to identify our new incumbent and assistant incumbent. Our hope is that we will have an incumbent in place around mid-September. Identifying and selecting an assistant incumbent will follow so that we hope that we will have both in place by the spring of 2023.
The Parish committee (Peter H, Kathy, Felicia and Jeff) had a very productive meeting with the Venerable Linda Hill (Executive Archdeacon) to kick start the selection process for our new incumbent. We discussed the process and the time line. The committee’s first task, completing a Parish Profile, is well begun, making good use of your input for the Shape of Parish Ministry consultation. We submitted the Parish Profile on schedule for February 1.
Should you have any questions about the discernment process for new clergy, please feel free to contact any member of the Parish committee.
Parish Council continues to provide leadership for our five strategic pillars of worship, discipleship, stewardship, outreach and community. We look forward to the opportunity to speak directly to you about the ongoing mission and continuing operations of the church at the virtual Vestry meeting on Sunday, February 27.
Yours in Christ,
Peter Humphries, Rector’s Warden and Jeff McRae, People’s Warden