Alleluia!
I’m gonna brag a little bit here. Please indulge me. Before the sun came up on April 1, you were out at The Chapel of the Transfiguration in Moose responding, “The Lord is risen, indeed!” and you’ve been going full tilt ever since.
A day later, you sent nine missionaries to Cuba to serve Favorito, Itabo, and the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba. On April 30, nine more will travel to Cuba, myself included. You’ve donated suitcases to Browse ‘N Buy that in turn help transport supplies to our Cuban family, not to mention all of the wish list items you’ve donated.
You’ve cooked more than a dozen meals for friends recovering from medical care. You’ve given financial resource, so kids from the high school can travel for sporting events without being a burden to their hard-working families. Each month, you provide tuition assistance to Bright Beginnings Preschool students upward of $1,400. You’ve literally kept the lights on for nine families in our Lower Valley Energy service area by paying more than $5,500 in bills.
You’ve prayed hundreds of prayers for folks on both our public and private prayer lists. You’ve hosted local law enforcement for Crisis Intervention Team Training, so that leaders in our valley are prepared and confident if crisis arises. This summer, you’ve committed to caring for gender based violence victims by partnering with Community Safety Network to create a safe space for films and discussion. The first conversation takes place on May 17 at 6 pm. You’re underwriting a performance from Angelique Kidjo "Give Her Wings: Teach Girls and Empower Women" on May 10 at The Center.
This month you surpassed 500 hours of volunteering for Habitat’s Build the Grove, Shape the Future Campaign. 500 hours! You’ve provided Sunday morning worship for 601 people, so far with another Sunday to go. You’ve prepped 1,200 individual snacks for kids who participate in Teton County Library’s afterschool program.
You’ve delivered Easter Flowers to those unable to make it to church. You’ve hosted three coffee hours feeding hundreds of people. And there’s no telling how many people have made it to our campus in order to hit a meeting in one of the recovery groups, receive care from our partner One22, or get groceries to feed their hungry families from the Jackson Cupboard. There’s so much more, too!
Every Sunday during the season of Easter at the outset of our liturgy, you hear the words, “Alleluia, Christ is risen!” You can see it, St. John’s. You can see the Risen Christ working in you as you serve this community so generously, so courageously, so faithfully and so comprehensively. Way to go! Keep it up! Let’s get even better! Let’s do more! I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of such a strong group of love-spreading difference-makers!
Love,
Jimmy
