Summer is Almost Over
Dear friends,
During the month of July, my family and I were blessed to have the chance
to get away for an extended time of vacation. We visited friends and family
in Maine and touched base with loved-ones back in Chicago. On either side
of our out-of-town travels, we got to know the beaches, parks and
restaurants in our new home—we even mustered the courage to take the
whole family into The City! My vacation time was wonderful: it was exciting
and fun-filled, with many memories that I will cherish forever. That being
said, I quickly learned that traveling with a toddler and an almost one-yearold
is anything but relaxing! Not that it wasn’t enjoyable, but it wasn’t the
hushed snooze on the beach retreat that most people aim for in their
travels. As one person asked, “What’s wrong? Do you need a vacation
from vacation?!?” Perhaps I did.
I have to say, it has been great being back in the office these past few
weeks. It has been exciting. Why? Because we are working and planning
and building our future. We are planning our year together. Baptismal
preparation, Sunday School reconfiguration, Christian Education for all
ages, Cook-outs, Rally Sunday, Harvest Fair, weekday Holy Eucharist and
Bible Study, new service times and more possibilities to come. We are truly
entering into an exciting time in our lives, and I am thrilled to be here. We
are entering into a broadened experience of our life at Grace. It will be hard
work most definitely, but these will all be labors of love. Like my own
vacation, we’ll have a wonderful time as we push ourselves to the limits.
May your summer’s end be a happy one, and here’s to a successful start of
our new program year! With God’s help—and yours, too—this will be a
wonderful new year at Grace Church.
Faithfully yours,
Josh Walters+
Rector
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