Christ is Risen!  Alleluia! Alleluia!

As we have now seen the snow finally melt from our Memorial Garden (although not yet fully from the Hale Street side of the Church), we enter into the Joys of Spring and await with anticipation the opportunities to work in gardens of many kinds.

One such Garden is being tilled by our “expanded” Vestry/Calling Committee as we continue our efforts in the search for our new “Priest in Charge”.  The Calling Committee met with the Diocesan Canon for Transition Bobbe Fairman again, (and the Calling Committees efforts were supplemented by a meeting with Bishop Robinson, Canon Tim Rich, Senior Warden Gray Cornwell, Calling Committee Chair Chris Wyskiel, Vestry Treasurer Greg Hunt and myself), to continue on course in the process with a realistic goal of calling our Priest in Charge by July 1, 2008.  The Bishop has expressed his full support for this goal and offered much appreciated encouragement for our efforts. 

The Calling Committee has worked to finalize our Parish Profile, which is an Episcopal Church document used in electronically posting this position within the nation-wide Church; and we are finalizing through the skills of Ted Kontos and other members of our Promotional Materials subcommittee, both a DVD and written materials to allow potential candidates to see who we are and what we are looking for in a Priest in Charge.  As part of that effort, the Calling Committee selected the following overall “broad brush” goals that we wished to meet as a Parish with our new Priest in Charge: (1) offer a spiritual home and inspiring Episcopal liturgy; (2) increase membership and attract young families and youth; (3) reinforce lay ministries and outreach – both locally and beyond; and (4) increase stewardship and public relations.

Additionally, the Calling Committee devised the following “description” of St. Thomas (tough to do in 50 words or less):  From historic Dover facilities, our committed lay leadership, multi-generational and growing young family base seek an inspiring Priest to nurture our growth, personally and in numbers, and kindle further outreach, locally and in Guatemala, while embracing the Episcopal Liturgy, Godly Play, and fellowship opportunities we’ve traditionally enjoyed in NH’s Seacoast.

The Parish Profile and written materials will be posted on the Bulletin Board in the Parish Hall as they become available.  We expect the Profile to be approved by the Bishop prior to this Bridge “going to press.” We expect other promotional materials to be finished by May 1^st; a DVD will be presented in the Parish Hall in early May after it is finalized.  We anticipate receiving resumes from a number of potential candidates by May 21, after which the Calling Committee will winnow the field to determine which candidates to invite for on-site interviews and visits by Calling Committee members to those candidates’ current “home” parishes. Please let Gray, Chris W. or Chris B. know if you have a name of a Priest that you would like the Diocese to consider.  Again, our object is to call our new Priest in Charge by July 1^st; and we ask for your continued prayers and support for all involved in this process. 

To that end, let us remember to collectively use our Search Collect throughout this time of transition:  Heavenly Father, you who sent your Beloved Son to be The Light to our World, guide our Church Family with your infinite wisdom and love as we walk this path to select our new Priest-in-Charge; give us eyes to see your Presence in this Process; give us ears to hear the various needs of our brothers and sisters; give us patience and strength to complete this task, even when our steps falter; and grant us Your Peace as we seek with open hearts to find the person you have given us to nurture the spirit of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church so that we all may be one with you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

God remains in charge and with us, as we walk this Path together.  And let us never forget that the Lord is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia! Alleluia!

 S.D.G.

 Chris