Welcome to St. Nicholas!
Greetings from Fr. Ken
Grace and peace to you all at St. Nicholas Birch Cliff in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am excited to be joining you during your transitional time as your interim priest in charge. I wish to thank Bishop Kevin along with the wardens Doug, Ken, and Suzanne for allowing me to serve the people of God here. The welcome I have received so far has been truly warm and inviting.
With the new realities of Covid 19 and the challenges that come with that new reality, it has become much more difficult to get to know you as quickly as I would have liked. However, we are also blessed to live in a time and place where through technology and social media, we can meet virtually and at least begin the process of getting to know one another. It is my hope that over the next few weeks we might be able to meet and have some introduction as we move towards the possibility of in person worship services in September. In the meantime, we will be looking at different ways to reach out to the parish both in person and virtually, as we respond to the changing realities of this time.
It is often during times of trial and uncertainty, that we experience our greatest growth in faith. I am reminded of the words of St. Peter in his first letter,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
While it might be hard to see it now, we too are invited into something much larger than a pandemic or time of transition and the struggles that they might bring. We are called into the new birth of the living hope of the resurrection of Christ. It is this hope that we at St. Nicholas are both called to remember, and to share with others. We must trust that we are, through all circumstances, always held in the hands of Jesus and protected by his love and his grace. It is my prayer that together we will hold fast to this hope and truth as we seek to be the body of Christ in transition, and in adversity. I pray that we become a lampstand that shines the hope of Christ into the world for those who are feeling lonely, struggling or are sick in our community.
I know that God has good things planned for the community of St. Nicholas and I am so very happy to have been called to sit and listen with you to what God is speaking into his church at this time. Continue to pray for each other, encourage each other and shine the love of Christ into the world as we go.
May God’s blessing be upon you and those you love this day and every day.
Fr. Ken
Welcome to our Interim Priest-in-Charge
It is with great joy and pleasure that we welcome the Rev’d. Ken Johnstone to St. Nick’s as our Interim Priest-in-Charge, beginning Monday, August 24.
It is our hope and prayer that Fr. Ken’s gifts, mingled with ours, will be a time of blessing for St. Nicholas, and for the Birch Cliff community.
Please remember Ken, his wife Lisa and their son Joshua, each other, and our community in your prayers as we embark on this new ministry together.
Due to COVID 19, all worship services are currently suspended. Please watch this website for information on when services will resume.
All other parish activities are also suspended until further notice.
The readings for this coming Sunday, September 27th, The 17th Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 21: 23-32
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