Below you can find a message from the Very Rev. Pamela. These are sent out most Fridays in our newsletter. Published January 16, 2026.
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Message from the Very Rev. Pamela from January 16, 2026:
Dear Ones,
This past Wednesday night about 25 of us filled Room 6/7 with laughter, good food, and great conversation. If you’re wondering what the occasion was, you might be surprised to learn that it was a calendar planning meeting for ministry leaders. Maybe that sounds like it should have been deadly dull, but really it wasn’t! It gave me an opportunity to give much-needed thanks and praise to a lot of the volunteers who make this parish the vibrant place that it is. And we got some work done, too.
Sometimes things like the Annual Meeting get a bad rap. They can sound boring, bureaucratic, or bombastic (had to go with the alliteration there!). I hope that isn’t the case at St. Martin’s—these last few years we’ve worked hard to make our meetings as brief, informative, and relevant as we can. Regardless, there are very good reasons to prioritize next week’s meeting (Sunday, January 25), as well as to consider getting more involved by putting your name forward for Vestry or Convention Delegate.
It’s important to remember that what we broadly call “administration” is a ministry. Without it, all the other important ministries couldn’t happen. This behind-the-scenes work is essential to the ongoing health of the parish. When the office staff and the Budget & Finance Committee and the Vestry are all working at full-steam, most parishioners probably don’t notice it, because it is going well! It’s only when the wheels start to come off that people become aware of what goes into keeping the church running.
At next week’s Vestry meeting, we’ll be voting on two slates, one for Vestry nominees and one for Convention delegates. We currently have some wonderful candidates for both slates, but could use a few more. We are looking for people who love this church and want to see it thrive, who don’t mind peering into “how the sausage is made” and who will keep humor, positive intent, and faithfulness at the top of their agenda. If that sounds like you, it’s not too late to reach out to the office.
I’d be happy to talk with anyone who wants to know more about what’s involved with being a Vestry member or Convention Delegate. The role of delegate, in particular, is changing, and I hope to bring more changes through my work as dean of the Wingfield Deanery. You can catch me at Coffee Hour or come to my office hours or just drop me a line.
See you Sunday!
Blessings,
Pamela+
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