Pastor Jill Letter

Moving Forward Together: A Message from Pastor Jill and the St. Paul’s Vestry My wonderful St. Paul’s family— This Sunday, we will hear the familiar story of the Transfiguration, when Jesus’ face shines and his clothes dazzle and he is joined by none other than Moses and Elijah. As Jesus and the other disciples set out to leave that mountaintop place, Peter makes a desperate attempt to remain there. "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” he says.

I think we can all understand Peter’s instinct. It can be so hard to follow God’s call to keep moving forward. But this year, as I sit with this story, I am struck by how this parish community has resisted that instinct. You have met countless challenges these past two years with willingness to change and enthusiasm for trying new things.

You called and welcomed a new priest during a pandemic. You transitioned to online and then hybrid worship. You continued to show up in your community, adjusting outreach ministries so that they could continue safely, and advocating for justice and safety for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Change is not easy, and it is usually accompanied by conflict. And this time of great change at St. Paul’s has been no exception. As we continue following Jesus into our unknown future, we are grateful for the guidance of our bishop, who has made it possible to work with the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC), an organization highly respected for their work in conflict transformation. I am looking forward to this opportunity to explore the future to which God calls our current parish, as well as how this will include former members who truly long for the flourishing of our ministry at St. Paul’s.

It is my great privilege to serve as your pastor. We are seeing life blooming everywhere in this parish. We are welcoming new friends and watching the community grow. We are expanding our outreach ministries to include even more hands-on experiences with our sisters and brothers in need. We are committing ourselves to the hard work of social justice and racial reconciliation, pursuing ways to provide love and dignity to all people.

As we make the transition to the season of Lent, joining Jesus on his journey to the cross, we do so knowing that the work of moving forward is always difficult, but that it always leads to the wonderous gift of new life in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Love, Pastor Jill