This year, once again, we went on a retreat as a parish the last weekend of September at Camp Merrowvista in Tuftonboro, NH. This was our second year doing this, so now it is a TRADITION! Put it on your calendars now for the last weekend in September 2020. The retreat’s goal is to simply be together. We sang, hiked, climbed the climbing wall, did crafts, worked on puzzles, laughed, worshipped, ate good food, canoed, stayed up late, went to bed early, and generally had a wonderful time together.

The theme was ‘Loving God and loving our neighbor.’ If you’ve been in church lately, you’ve experienced some of what we did on retreat firsthand. Two weeks ago, we heard Jen, Ashley, and Olin sing “Crowded Table” (see Anne’s article in this newsletter for more about it) at both the 8 and 10 o’clock services. This has become a theme song for SJC and has helped me clarify our mission of Radical Hospitality. Last week the kids sang “10,000 reasons” at the 10 am and again we heard the good news in song. I’m not sure I will ever forget little Amos playing the guitar next to his Papa Olin. This multi-generational community is a tremendous gift and gives us an opportunity to do good, important work.

Looking around SJC these days, I see so much goodness. It is the connection that crosses generations. It is the hard work to care for the least, the lost, and the last. It is the continued focus, as Nathan articulated in his sermon Sunday, on the welfare of the wider community. We are seeking to care for each other and also continuing to ask how we can add value to the community we inhabit. The retreat did not start this process, but it has deepened many relationships and connected us to our mission more intimately.

I hope you will put on your calendar now the 2020 Parish Retreat (last weekend in September) and even if “retreating” isn’t your thing know that SJC is committed to the practice of Loving God with all that we have and loving our neighbor as ourselves whenever and wherever we are!