Lush Valleys and Big Dreams
Wow, we live in an amazing place!
Can you believe the green that’s covering the valley floor and hillsides? It seems greener than last year to me, but I know I’m still a rookie, as far as Jackson, Wyoming is concerned. The change of season here seems to bring opportunity. You can read ahead in Revelations and hear we’ll have the opportunity to honor and thank a beloved member of our community and staff, Pam Phillips, this summer, as she prepares to depart as our musician. What a gift she is to our church and our Jackson community! And, as we say goodbye to Pam, we welcome David Wagner, already one of us, but assuming the lead role. What a treasure it is to have the opportunity to get to know him in this new way.
Like the valley, the church feels lush to me right now. We’re full and healthy and blooming—well watered and cultivated. We’ve got great leadership in our staff and vestry and other local leaders. We’ve been responsive to the needs of our community in so many loving AND courageous ways. I’m looking forward to harvesting some of this growth and putting that resource to the good love work that we’re doing in this valley. That’s work that will take vision, careful thought and practice. It will include, likely, wild success and heartbreaking failure—great efforts directed toward mission always include both! I couldn’t be more excited.
To that end, I’m hoping you will find a way to be with us on Sunday morning, June 10th.
We’ll talk together about how we will find our way forward together in this lush life God has prepared for us and prepared us for!
Of course the conversation wouldn’t be complete without a surprise novelty, too. This will be one of those Sundays where you get a present for coming to church—not just a present—a tool for helping big dreams become our reality. I’ll tell you, it’s gonna be fun. We’ll have some special music at 9:30, and we’ll launch this theme together at 8 and 10 at St. John’s and the Chapel of the Transfiguration and St. Hubert’s in Bondurant, too. I can’t wait!
Love, Jimmy
