A message from your Interim Rector 9/2/2026

We are in “ordinary time” in the church year.  Although, it is not “ordinary” in the sense of routine or unchanging. This part of the Church’s liturgical year is officially called “the season after Pentecost” and it runs from Pentecost Sunday until the start of Advent, this year November 29^th.  But it is often called “ordinary time” because there is not a single theme or seasonal focus like the “waiting” of Advent or the “confessional tone” of Lent or the joyful “resurrection” events of Easter.  Instead, this season focuses on US. This is the season that the readings each week focus on what God calls us to do for God’s kingdom. There is nothing “ordinary” about this season and God’s call to discipleship.

St. Catherine’s is in a search process for a new rector and although it will likely take another 9-12 months to finish the process, I wanted to remind you that you will be calling them to share ministry with you, not to do ministry for you. Your new rector will be sharing God’s work with you and she/he will be working with the Vestry to cast a new vision for St. Catherine’s.  However, your new rector will not be doing your ministry. Sometimes, when a new rector arrives, people think that now someone will do this ministry or that one; but the truth is that you are the ones who are called by your baptism to do the ministries of the church. Pay close attention to the Sunday readings each week and you will see that God has plans for you and God has work for you to do for God’s kingdom.

We had a wonderful ministry fair on August 23rd, where many of St. Catherine’s ministry teams shared their work and invited you to join them.  As you prayerfully consider the ministries you want to continue and the new opportunities you want to try, mark your ministry commitment form and put it in the offering plate or in the stewardship box on the oblations table.  In the past, the roles of some worship ministries have been filled by clergy because they were always “there”, but many of the worship ministries in the liturgy are meant to be filled by lay persons; so volunteer to serve.  What might we still need?  Volunteers to serve as acolytes, Sr. Server, Crucifier, children’s chapel assistants, Eucharistic visitors and chalice ministers, etc.  You get the idea.  Thanks to all those who already volunteered to serve.

Remember, liturgy simply means “the work of the people”. What we do each time we gather for worship is our work together as the people of God. That work is our spoken responses, our voices in song, our prayers whether we speak them or others voice them for us, our offering of ourselves to God, and our gathering as God’s beloved to encourage and support each other. We need everyone to offer praise and thanks to God.  Each of us needs the other person in order that we might offer our collective voices in worship and our collective ministries in service.

Together great things can be accomplished for God’s kingdom and I am excited to share this time with you. 

Mo Pat+

PS, remember to Fully Rely On God - so time for another Frog pic!