The 50th Anniversary Commemorative Booklets are coming!

For many of you this will be the first “Words from the Rector” you have received since you came to the 50th Anniversary Memorial service commemorating of the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  I want to welcome you!

“Rector” is another word for “Pastor”, and as the pastor of Mariners’ Church, I not only welcome you, but I consider it an honor that you are reading these words.  These emails come once a week (on Fridays) and are written from my pastor’s heart for a community of people who simply like to reflect on issues of life, the Bible, and sometimes the great city of Detroit, all from the perspective of the Christian faith.  The Mariners’ Church “By Land and by Sea” quarterly newsletter will also be sent and give you notice of our Maritime services, like the “Blessing of the Fleet” (in March) along with other ways to serve the maritime community throughout the year.

You may have filled out a Mariners’ Church visitor card simply because you wanted a “50th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet”.  Great!  You will be receiving that beautiful remembrance keepsake very soon!

If you have been part of our community but were not able to make the 50th anniversary weekend, please let me know if you would like a commemorative booklet by replying to me on this email.  Give me your full name and mailing address and we will send one out to you.

When you receive the commemorative booklet in the mail, you will also notice there is a card sharing the times of our Christmas Services at Mariners’ Church.  I would invite you to join us during this important season if you don’t already have a home church and you live in the area.  The Christmas Eve services are at 4:30pm and 7:30pm.  The choir will be singing at each of these services, while the 4:30pm service will include a short children’s sermon.

__________

As we enter into the Advent and Christmas seasons, I want us to reflect on what it means to be a community, even if you are new to this community.  Our community just was broadened significantly as 1,500+ of us came together over three days to memorialize the Edmund Fitzgerald.  We have a common interest of honoring those who serve, both past and present, on the dangerous waters of the Great Lakes and beyond.  We paused to remember those who died, but also lift up prayers of blessing and protection for those who continue to serve.

We are also a community of people, from various backgrounds, that come together to remember and worship God for what He has done for us through Jesus.  Mariners’ is a denominationally independent church that worships in the Anglican Tradition.  We almost have as many backgrounds represented at Mariners’ Church as we do people who attend.  I love this diversity.

When so many come together from differing church backgrounds, it makes us focus on that which unifies us. This ‘majoring on the majors’ approach means there is room for you and your thoughts, questions, and worship.

I’m so grateful for you being part of the Mariners’ Church community, and I look forward to sharing thoughts and ‘words’ with you each Friday.

Blessings and peace,

Rev. Todd