St.Paul's Willimantic

I've only been at St. Paul's since the end of May/beginning of June. I am a Catholic by birth, but consider myself to be an "irregular" Catholic. Rev. Jac says it's OK to be a member without being received. So here I am. Why? Because for the last three months I've found the need to be a regular guest at the Covenant Soup Kitchen and I met Rev. Jac there. It was her total lack of judgment of the "Cafe's" guests, and her regular appearance to request prayer concerns from all of us, that led me to the Wednesday Prayer Service. I wanted to learn centering prayer from her. Then I attended Sundays and I liked what I heard in her sermons and feel "fed" by them. But, even more, the people of St. Paul's welcomed me with open arms -- also without any judgment.

I feel humbly honored to be a part of the SWOT process. I see St. Paul's as a Christian community who is concerned with the needs of those around them and look forward to becoming a partner in ministry with all of you. As a young girl, I most wanted to be a missionary nun. Later that changed to wanting to become a cloistered Carmelite until I decided that I needed to try the world first. Peace and social justice have always seemed, to me at least, to be what Jesus would be about if He were living amongst us today. It is my best understanding of the Gospel message.

If I may be so bold as to suggest it, I would hope that all members of the parish would consider going to the Soup Kitchen on a regular or semi-regular basis to get to know the guests there. It is one of the places I believe Jesus would go, and, I also believe it is "ripe" with ministry opportunities. But that is just my opinion and I have not mentioned to anyone before now.

Thank you for welcoming me,
Jean Henderson (the gimp)

Jean, thanks for posting! Your words tell me that we're doing something right, that we're trying hard to understand that Jesus' life wasn't about a belief system - it was about a way of life. Welcoming the stranger is part of it. So, welcome - and now you're not a stranger but another adopted (like the rest of us) member of the tribe.

Thanks also for reading and commenting on my Recruiting generation Yblog post. Being a parent can be so difficult, so painful....

Al

I warmly accept your welcome as a new member of the tribe!

Jean