Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Wow! It’s been a whole month together already! I’m glad to serve as your pastor and share in ministry with you.
First, a bit more about me:
Where are you living? We’re currently staying with my in-laws in Haddon Township. While it’s not quite like having our own home, we are perfectly comfortable. Our house in Michigan is under contract and set to close in February. We are looking at houses between Hainesport and Pitman, where my husband has been called as Pastor. The process has been slow, but we are glad to not have to hurry to buy.
How are you settling in? I have been absolutely thrilled to be living near (with) family again. This has made the process of moving and resettling much easier. Now that our daughter is enrolled in school and I’ve been in the office for a few weeks, I’m more settled. The process of getting to know the congregation and the patterns of life here will take some time. I appreciate your patience as I ask your name for the 3rd, 4th, and even the 10th time. Remembering names is not a strength of mine.
Where are you? When you get this newsletter, I will probably be on vacation. I wouldn’t usually plan a trip only a month after starting a new call, but our Disney Cruise to the Caribbean with my husband’s family has been on the calendar for over a year now. We are excited to have all 16 of us together for a trip!
Now, a bit more for you:
Would you like a visit? I would love to get to know everyone well as quickly as possible. In reality, that will take some time. My first focus is visiting our homebound members and those who don’t get out much. If anyone else would like a visit, feel free to call the office or send me an email so we can arrange a time. We can meet in person at your home, my office, go out for lunch or coffee, or we can talk on the phone if that is your preference for safety.
Communication: In dealing with the day-to-day life of the church, I am an extremely low drama person. I have little patience for conflict that can be avoided by direct, healthy communication. It is especially important that we keep communication lines open as we get to know one another. I am working with council and other church leaders over the next few months to ensure that decision making and information sharing is handled properly.
A Prayer: Almighty God, by the power of the Spirit, you have knit your servants together into the one body of your Son, Jesus Christ. Look with favor upon us in our commitment to serve in Christ’s name. Give us courage, patience, and vision; and strengthen us all in our Christian vocation of witness to the world and of service to others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (ELW, p. 84)
I look forward to continuing to get to know you as we partner together in Christ’s church.
Peace, Rev. Jessica Hahn