“Emmanuel is a Family to all who Invite Her in”

I don’t remember how it began, but in my second year of seminary I somehow became the birthday boy.  Whenever the school sang Happy Birthday to a student or professor, my name would get added in for good measure.  As I walked across campus, instead of the typical salutations of “Good morning” or “Hello,” I would hear, “Happy birthday, Morris!”  It seemed that every day of the year was a good day to celebrate my birth!

Perhaps it was due to my quiet, embarrassed nature, or my inability to come up with a witty response, that allowed the joke to continue for years. Even this week, I received a text from a friend: “Happy birthday, Morris! (and sorry for missing it each of the past 364 days).”

Over the past few days, I have received no shortage of birthday wishes from all of you.  Through your cards, texts, phone calls, and even songs, you have shown me such kindness.  Another year around the sun, and another year among you, for what more could I hope?

A church is more than just a place for worship, religious formation, or service to the community; it is a family.  We gather for life’s celebrations and sorrows.  We walk steadily alongside one another, year after year; growing closer, laughing, crying, and becoming more like the Kingdom of God that Jesus described to the disciples, and that the early Church in the Book of Acts sought to embody.

You can see this clearly when we gather for worship or fellowship, but it is just as present in the work you do not see: in the quiet conversations with those who come into the office; in the eucharistic visitor who shares the sacrament with the homebound; in the brief hospital visits following a successful surgery or a difficult diagnosis; in the written letters, delivered flowers, prepared meals, and uplifted prayers.

Emmanuel is a family to all who invite her in.

I hope that you who are reading this never feel alone.  

I hope you are comfortable letting us know when you need your family.
I hope you know that we will always be here for and with you.  


This is our parish family’s holy and life-giving work.