July 21, 2023
Dear Granville Chapel,
Greetings to you in the name of Jesus! As I write this letter, I am full of feelings of excitement, anticipation, and joy as I await and prepare for September. Granville Chapel is daily in my thoughts and prayers. I am truly humbled that God is leading me and my family to Granville and intertwining our paths together. As I expressed to you in the candidating message in June, from the beginning of this process, from the first time I stepped into the congregation last spring, and all throughout it til now, I have sensed God's presence and hand of guidance. I marvel at how the Lord leads and guides and takes care of us as we seek to put our trust in him.
My family and I are spending time together over the summer, and are out of town for a few of the remaining weekends. Today we are on our way out to Mission with our previous church community. We are also taking the opportunity to transition out of our present church context, preparing our children for the changes ahead, as well as catching up with friends and sharing the exciting news of our coming transition to Granville Chapel. I will stay in close communication with the Board and the current team to ensure as smooth a start as possible come September.
I know August marks a year from Andy's passing. Know that I'm praying for God's continued presence and comfort for the community and especially for Andy's family during this time. We grieve as those who have hope in Christ. May the Prince of Peace surround the family and the whole church with his love. A prayer that I have found meaningful in such circumstances of embracing both joy and sorrow is from the book Every Moment Holy. In it there is a line that reads: “In one hand I grasp the burden of my grief, while with the other I reach for the hope of grief ’s redemption.” I pray for encouragement for Granville at this time.
While Sept. 5 is more than a month away, I know that the time will pass by quickly and will be upon us in the blink of an eye! I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation! Please continue to pray for our family as we make these significant changes in the weeks ahead.
Looking forward to working together.
Yours in Christ,
Samuel
A letter from Sam to Granville Chapel
