July 6, 2008

Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

            As has been announced over these past many months, the eighteen members of our Calling Committee have labored untold hours on our behalf – surveying our Church Family, ascertaining goals, developing our Parish Profile, producing a DVD and various promotional materials describing St. Thomas’, evaluating twelve candidate packets from places as far a field as California and England, interviewing four candidates over parts of two days each, candidly discussing each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses, and prayerfully discerning which candidate would be the best for our Family.

            It is with great joy and thanksgiving that we announce to you the unanimous recommendation by our Calling Committee and the unanimous vote of approval by our Vestry to call the Rev. Susan Garrity to be our new Priest-in-Charge.  Our Bishop has whole heartedly approved of our selection and has issued the call to Susan on our behalf; and, equally important, Susan has accepted!

            Susan comes to us having served as the Assistant/Associate Rector of St. John’s, Portsmouth, and having been an elementary school teacher and middle school counselor in Maine and New Hampshire for many years.  She and her husband, John, have two grown children and currently live in Newfields.  Susan brings a wonder-filled sense of enthusiasm for the presence of God in and amongst us; and she has a particularly noted gift for the pastoral care of all members of our Family – both young and old.  While her first “official” Sunday with us will be August 3^rd, we are planning a Celebration Sunday to welcome Susan and John for some time in September so that hopefully the Bishop and more of us will be able to attend.

            Your prayers, love and support throughout this phase of our Parish life have been felt and appreciated.  While work remains for all of us over the next three years as we conduct a Parish self-study and ascertain mutual ministry goals, the work of the Calling Committee has been successfully completed.  We are truly grateful to those members and their families who gave so much of their time and talents.  We are all most richly blessed by their collective efforts.

            Now…who’s up for a party?

 Yours in Christ+