To my dear friends and family at the Parish of St. Augustine's…

I know that some of us face this transition with an indescribable amount of trepidation in our hearts. As a brother to you all in Christ Jesus, I'm writing to tell you this: lay whatever doubts you have about the future of this church to rest − don't be afraid!

I concur with what Ken Phillips said in his testimony this past Advent season, "the Holy Spirit truly is in this place." I also agree with what Hartshorn expressed in his last sermon that God's spirit, the framework of our souls, was not given to us for our use. It comes from the Almighty; and therefore it isn't something we can control. The good news is that where the Almighty chooses to place the Spirit, so there it will stay for all time. Jacob knew this when he awoke on that fateful night in Bethel. Jesus knew it in Gethsemane. Hartshorn knew the Spirit rested in a small cave chapel in Bethlehem. And, we know that the Spirit is very much alive here at St. Augustine's. Yes, it is! Although Hartshorn stoked the eternal fire within us, the fire this parish has for God cannot − in fact, must not − leave with him. We must by His will, continue the spirit of selfless service and fellowship that drew me to this parish.

So, my brothers and sisters, I ask you to open your hearts to Mark and welcome him into our family. Katie, Michael, and the rest of our staff and lay leadership will still be here. God will work through Mark and the rest of us to fulfill the wonderful plans that He has for us. Because, lest we forget, churches are not defined by the pastors alone. It is God who created this world, saved Noah, chose Abraham and His people, inspired Moses and His prophets, loved David and His kings, freed the captive, established His church, and sent His only begotten Son to redeem us from sin and death by His blood.

We will continue to be sustained by that aforementioned Truth. This very same Truth that allowed Simon to help Jesus bear his cross and the same Truth that moved a zealous Jew (Saul/Paul) to get back on a horse after a fall through a vision that inspired him to change his name and life. Both men went on, no matter what dangers their destinies harbored for them. The Patriarchs knew it too: Abraham and Isaac mastered their compassion and climbed the mountain. Years later, slaves in Goshen, knowing that God had provided the lamb which Abraham had sacrificed on that mountain, painted its blood on their doors and went in. May we live in God's eternal Passover during this time − for hallelujah! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast.