Padre’s Ponderings for March 2026

St. John’s, I love you.  I love our Spirit of inclusivity, belonging, justice, and faith in Christ.  And I know many do much ministry for Christ’s community through St. John’s.  I see you, and I appreciate you.

Some have wondered why St. John’s isn’t holding space for a special Lenten formation and fellowship experience this year.  To be quite honest, our ministries are already overflowing.  From the new CICADA Center to the Thursday night weekly Bible Studies, from Sunday morning 9:00 Anglican Prayer Bead sessions to Connected Communities, from monthly Social Justice @ St. John’s to regularly scheduled choir rehearsals and singing on Sundays — all the above are just a few of St. John’s ministries.  In other words, we already have plenty of opportunities to gather for formation and fellowship.

While we could add another Lenten-type offering, I believe our current ministries already offer a meaningful and abundant path for the season.  My hope for you this Lent is for you to steep yourself in a meaningful practice that transforms your heart and mind further into the Way of Love.  You might add something, you might subtract something, you might simply have a mental shift.  Lent is a time to strip away the clutter of our lives we allow to separate us from the love of the resurrected Christ. 

For those who’ve been hanging back to see how St. John’s direction is going, please join us more fully.  We’re growing in our ministries, and we still need your help.  I won’t single out any one particular ministry because all of our ministries need more hands on deck.

For years, St. John’s ministries have depended on a small number of folks to make them happen.  The result is that we think all ministries are running along hunky dory.  We need more lay leaders stepping into ministry positions, and now is the time.  I’m tremendously grateful to many of our newest parishioners who’ve stepped into important ministry opportunities.  The reality is that every ministry team needs more folks willing to serve. 

I love serving you, and I cherish leading with the Vestry and other ministry team leaders.  And we need you.  I cannot do it on my own, nor can ministry teams that exist on only a set of co-chairs and maybe one other person.  I believe St. John’s will grow and flourish more when all of us look to see what we can do for God’s community inside and outside our beautiful building. 

May this Lenten season open our eyes and hearts to where Christ is calling us to serve through St. John’s and beyond.

In God’s Grace,

Eric L. Miller+