A Felt Sense of Resurrection

MATT GREENAWALT
On a Sunday morning fifteen years ago, my wife, Tarran, and I walked through the open doors of St. James’s. It was shortly after we were married and, like many couples from different faith backgrounds, we were looking for a church where we both felt at home. On that first Sunday, that is precisely what we found.

Our ties to St. James’s have grown over the years. Our children, Gavin and Miles, were baptized here. Tarran and I began volunteering in the Children’s Ministry. Gavin and Miles started singing in the Cherub Choir, and Tarran became “Choir Mom.” I was asked to serve on the Vestry, and now I am serving as your Senior Warden.

As we look ahead to the start of the program year, I find myself thinking back to what Blake said nearly a year ago on our first Sunday with Beth—that it felt like resurrection. There was a tangible sense of excitement among the congregation that morning. It was a time to recommit to all the things we love about St. James’s and an opportunity to start thinking about the future.

Since that day, we—the clergy, staff, Vestry, and congregation—have carried that sense of excitement and opportunity with us. We are grounded, but we have been bold in our vision and audacious in our planning. We are investing in our clergy, ensuring they have the capacity to lead, serve, and care for us. We are committed to being better stewards of our campus, making sure our buildings are safe, comfortable, and welcoming. We are prioritizing necessary and overdue repairs while continuing to think about how we can best use our spaces today and tomorrow. We are working to connect more deeply with the organizations that share our campus, responding to their needs and supporting their missions. We are taking steps to reimagine hospitality, positioning us to build on our legacy of generosity while remaining mindful of efficiency and the demands on our volunteers. And we are preparing for change: looking forward to celebrating cherished members of our community while welcoming those who are new.

So, yes, I still feel that sense of resurrection—maybe even more so now that we have shifted from potential to momentum. I hope that as you learn more about what is to come, you’ll share my excitement. It is a chance for all of us to think about how we—as individuals, families, friends, a congregation, and one body—can make St. James’s everything we know it can be.