Hello and Farewell

It sure was thrilling to see the crowd in church on Easter. Here’s hoping that among the many visitors and first timers a significant number will be with us again. It was a glorious celebration!

Speaking of greeting newcomers…we’re on the look-out for parishioners who are comfortable approaching visitors and offering to escort them to coffee hour if they are inclined, to introduce them to Eric and fellow parishioners if they are agreeable to that and to encourage them to fill out a pew card with their contact information. The pastoral care team has been working on welcome bags for newcomers with information on St. John’s and a couple of treats inside. When completed they will be available for any of us to deliver to a newcomer on Sunday morning. If you are fearful of greeting someone, only to find out they’ve been here for awhile, you can always claim honestly, “I’m ___ and I wanted to say good morning,” or (my favorite), “I’m ______ and we may have met but remind me?” (Only use that one if you are 55 or older). Please let Bianca in the office @ 304 346-0359 or one of the pastoral care co-chairs know if you can help with this important ministry or just start greeting!

Walking into Hunter Hall after church on Easter Sunday I ran into Lora Witt, a relatively new Saint of John’s, who has already become part of several ministries, Congregational Life on this particular day. As Lora served, I sat down with an old friend and colleague, Una Karner (pictured above) , who will be leaving us soon to join her daughters in upstate New York. Una’s friends have described her as ‘Queen of small groups at St. John’s’, having led several book groups, initiated Contemplative Prayer and co-led a successful three-year support group for parishioners, The Fellowship Group, with me. Her first Sunday at St. John’s was also Karl Ruttan’s first Sunday in 1994. She leaves us now as we continue to celebrate Eric’s first year with us, a year filled with promise and energy. We will miss her terribly. God speed, Una!