San Jose Episcopal - Mentoring at last!

Well, I've now begun my mentoring experience at San Jose Episcopal. Their rector (and my mentor) is Father Steph Britt. He's in his late thirties and loves ministry. He's been at SJE a few years and the folks there are very fond of him. The parish is very outgoing, warm and growing. They've added forty new families to an already healthy church since Father Britt arrived. I've also met their Deacon, Chris Sorey, Sue and Susan from the office, Molly their youth programs director, and Bill, their talented music director. The parish has a day school and the school and church combined share a lovely property on one of the more prosperous boulevards in Jacksonville.

Going to a different church is different! I have grown so accustomed to worship and community with the good people of St. Andrew's. I cannot help but think that the diocese started the mentoring program so that potential seminarians would get a taste of leaving their home churches before they actually committed to selling their homes and moving away for school. The good thing is that the people of San Jose are so welcoming that I know I will feel at home before too long. I am inspired by the example of St. Paul as he travelled; getting to know and care for many church families. Last Sunday was my first at SJE and I attended both services. In the future I will get to experience the responsibilities of serving at the altar, but for this first Sunday I was simply a visitor. I think this was the right way to start. Father Britt introduced me in each service and many, many people introduced themselves, before and after the services and during their delicious breakfast. I even received a visitor welcome packet with trail mix that I just finished eating this morning.

Tonight I'll be back at St. Andrew's trying to help set next year's budget. I'm sure that pledges will have been impacted by the economy, but I know God's blessings will continue to shower on both of my churches.

Jon