Friends,
As Christ’s body, we have been given the good work of raising up leaders and empowering them to serve in new ways and in new places. It’s always been a great sign of the life and Spirit present in our community that we do this — forming, equipping, and sending out leaders – and it’s been one of the key ways St. Anne’s in-the-Fields continues to serve our diocese. With this in mind, it’s something of bittersweet news that Greg has accepted a call to serve the people of St. John’s in Charlestown. I know that I am personally grateful for the ways Greg helped my transition, all the gifts for preaching and teaching he’s given us week in and week out, not to mention his easygoing wisdom and humor — be it with our youth or our weekly Men’s and Women’s Bible studies. Greg, Alice, and Murray have been such a gift and blessing to our community, and we are grateful to have shared this part of their journey with them. Here’s a message from Greg:
Dear St. Anne’s,
The past two years of my life, since I first drove down the Concord Road on a hot summer evening to meet with Kate Elledge and our wardens for the first time, have been the most fulfilling and satisfying years of my life. I don’t mean the joy of raising a toddler (it’s hard) or the wonders of leading you in digital worship (it’s… two-dimensional). I mean that the experience of being one of your priests has been an astounding gift for me. In ways big and small, in conversations silly and life-changing, you have shown me how deep the well of faith can be and you have helped me to understand more clearly my own ministry.
I’m writing to you today to share the news that I have accepted a call to be the next Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
As I prepare for this transition, I am excited (and nervous!) to continue growing in my ministry. As I face the reality of saying goodbye to you, I am also really, really sad. But more than anything right now, I feel tremendously grateful to you. I am not the same priest or the same person I was when I came to St. Anne’s two years ago—and your love and your prayer are at the root of all my growth.
My last Sunday at St. Anne’s will be on September 13, but there will be opportunities to talk and to say goodbye before then. In particular, three opportunities come to mind. First, I’ll be planning to attend three of our remaining 8am outdoor services: this Sunday, August 23, September 6, and September 13. Second, I’ll be planning to hang out on the patio outside the church on Wednesday, September 9 from about 4-6pm. If you’d like to drop by, let me know. Finally, please feel free to reach out if you’d like to find a time to say goodbye by phone or Zoom—I’ll be on vacation August 24 – September 4, but back for a few weeks before I go.
For now, all I can say is: Thank you.
Yours in Christ,
Greg
We will be saying goodbye to the Johnstons over the coming weeks, as best as we can in COVID, so be looking for ways for to wish Greg and his family well as they enter this exciting new chapter.
One way we can bless them on this new journey, and to mark how much we have appreciated their time with us, is to contribute to a going-away “purse.” If you’d like to make a financial contribution to this, please mail in a check to St. Anne’s and put Greg’s name in the memo.
Blessings,
Garrett