A Note from our Rector

Dear St. Paul's Family,

It’s hard for me to believe that by the end of this summer, I will have completed ten years of ministry with you all. I have to admit, photos of the young(ish) couple that arrived here in 2013 with a three-year-old and a three-month-old say that it's been a minute since we came to Greenville! I could not have anticipated the shape the ensuing ten years would take. And I could not be more grateful to God for having spent them with you.

Looking ahead to the start of my eleventh year, I feel the need to pause and reset some of my personal practices for mental, physical, and spiritual health. With that in mind, and with the support of the Vestry, I’ve decided it’s time for me to take a sabbatical during the months of June and July. Rest assured, this is not an end but rather an intermission in the ongoing work of our shared ministry at St. Paul’s. It's a part of the rhythm of life in the church, a practice that our diocese encourages priests to embrace every five years.

During these two months, I will take time for travel, rest, and reflection. For starters, Harry and I are embarking on a father-and-son pilgrimage to Japan that we’ve been anticipating for several years. Upon our return, I’m planning to spend some extended time with my family, catch up on some reading (and perhaps a little fishing), and renew a rhythm of prayer and practice that has been disrupted by the constant juggling of parish duties and family life over the past several years.

Meanwhile, the life of St. Paul's will continue, vibrant and vital as ever. We have strong and capable clergy, staff, and vestry leadership who will ensure that our worship, pastoral care, education, and outreach ministries continue to thrive. After all, we are a community, not dependent on a single person, but on the goodness of God that’s collectively expressed through the love, faith, and work of us all.

While I am eager for this period of renewal, I will certainly miss being with you all. Nonetheless, I am confident that we will all continue to be guided by the Holy Spirit, who sustains us and continues to draw us together. When I return in August, I look forward to hearing your stories, sharing mine, and together discovering where God is leading us next. I am excited about the future of St. Paul's and my role in it. Thank you for ten outstanding years of ministry together, and for your support of this sabbatical. Please keep me in your prayers, as you will remain in mine.

Peace,

Andrew