Dear People of God,

The noted American poet and one time Librarian of Congress, Archibald MacLeish, wrote:

“Religion is at its best when it makes us ask hard questions of ourselves. It is at its worst when it deludes us into thinking we have all the answers for everybody else.”

As we always do during the season of Advent, we are preparing for the birth of Jesus in time as we wait for his second coming in glory. But this year there seems to be an even greater expectation of new things to come, an even greater urgency to our preparations for his – and our – new birth, both as individuals and as a congregation.

We, with the leadership of your Vestry, have confronted the challenges that we face without fear, but with great hope for the promises of God who is always about making all things new, though we know the new may be uncomfortable.

Like many congregations across the world, most especially in the West, we have experienced a serious decline in our attendance, a fact highlighted by the COVID pandemic. But we have also seen a refreshing movement of the Holy Spirit as we seek to rebuild. Enthusiastic new people have joined our congregation, and are already putting their talents to work. Their presence is a witness to the power of the Holy Spirit to move and blow as and where she wills – to bring new life and new hope.

We have begun the process of asking those hard questions of ourselves to allow the further birth of the Christ Child within us. What must be changed? How will I change to let the love of God shine more clearly in my life so that others may know a love that passes understanding? How will we be able to welcome new members into our fold to best serve their needs? How will this congregation be a brighter beacon of the love that was revealed in Bethlehem?

What will you as an individual do? Will your prayers be more faithful and fruitful? Will your gifts, according to your abilities of time, talent and treasure, reflect the way God loves you and you love God?

One of the great strengths of the Episcopal Church – and most certainly of St. Andrew’s – is our willingness to let others be themselves, to believe what they must believe within the parameters of faith, hope, and love so that they may explore the wondrous love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit.

As St. Augustine of Hippo reminds us: “If one thinks one understands God, it is not God one has understood.” Therefore, we do not impose a rigid set of rules and restrictions on how and what people must believe. While this may make for a ‘messy’ church, it also makes for a church founded in that glorious liberty of the children of God about which St. Paul so wondrously writes in Galatians: “For freedom Christ has set us free!”

(If you would like a concise, though incomplete, version of what the Episcopal Church believes, read the Outline of Fatih beginning on page 845 of the Book of Common Prayer.)

While we are most certainly not free to do any and everything we wish, we are free to love in abundance, without fear or coercion of any kind. We are free to serve others as Christ has served us. We are free to make the changes needed, both personally and corporately, to live lives worthy of our calling as daughters and sons of God. We are free to change the church to better serve the needs of everyone. We are free to change the world into Love.

May your Advent and Christmas be a time of rejoicing because you have known and shared the freeing love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Faithfully,

The Reverend Carlton Kelley

Rector

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Grayslake, IL

13 December 2023