Beloved Community,
Blessings for this month of November! As I mentioned in my October message, October 31st marked exactly one year since we officially merged as one congregation. One year! And as we enter November, I find myself reflecting on just how much has happened in these past twelve months—not simply in the decisions we have made, but in the ways we have continued learning what it means to be one congregation together.
At this time last year, we were beginning to dig deeply into conversations about what changing our name to St. John Immanuel would look like. And as we know, changing a name is never just about changing the words on a sign or a piece of paper.
Names carry history. They carry memories, relationships, traditions, and a sense of belonging. For some, especially those whose roots at St. John reach back through generations, this change has not been easy. For others, the name St. John Immanuel was enthusiastically welcomed as a beautiful expression of our new beginning. And for others, their feelings fall somewhere in between.
I want us to remember that there is room for all of those experiences. There is room for gratitude and grief, excitement and uncertainty, hope and hesitation. Becoming one congregation does not mean that everyone must feel the same way about every change. Instead, it means that we continue to make room for one another, listen to one another, and walk alongside one another in faith.
And I believe that is exactly what we have been doing.
This past year has brought many conversations—some joyful, some challenging, and some that are still ongoing. We continue to work through important matters, including the conversations surrounding our parking lot. These are not always easy discussions. They require patience, thoughtful listening, discernment, and sometimes a willingness to sit with questions that do not have immediate answers.
But I wonder if we sometimes overlook just how much spiritual work happens in these moments.
We often think the spiritual life of a congregation happens on Sunday mornings—and certainly, worship is at the heart of who we are. But the spiritual life of the church is also taking place around meeting tables, in emails exchanged throughout the week, in phone calls, and in the careful work of people who give their time and energy because they love this congregation and care about its future.
I think especially of our Endowment Committee, Scholarship Committee, and Memorial Committee, whose members have been doing important and thoughtful work this past year. Each committee has been working to clarify its mission and consider how best to communicate its purpose to the congregation. This may not always be the kind of work that is visible on a Sunday morning, but it is deeply meaningful. It is work that asks important questions about stewardship, generosity, legacy, and how the gifts entrusted to this congregation can continue to serve God’s mission.
And I am grateful for it all.
I am grateful for those who show up, ask thoughtful questions, wrestle with difficult decisions, and care enough to keep the conversations going. I am grateful for those who carry the histories that have shaped us and for those who are helping us imagine our future. I am grateful that even when we do not all see things the same way, we continue to be called together as the body of Christ.
Perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons of this first year together: Unity does not require uniformity. We do not have to agree on everything to belong to one another in Christ. We are held together by something far greater than a name, a building, a parking lot, or any decision we will ever make. We are held together by the grace of God.
And how fitting that the name we now share includes that beautiful promise: Immanuel—God is with us. Not only when everything is settled or when everyone agrees, but right here, in the midst of it all.
And as we continue learning what it means to be St. John Immanuel together, may we trust that God is with us in every step of the journey.
With Love & Gratitude,
Pastor Maggie Westaby