August 17, 2022
I have just returned from a trip to Toronto, Ontario. It is an old haunt of mine from the 1970s and 80s, growing up just south of the New York-Ontario boarder. Each time I have returned, I find it interesting to see how much Toronto has changed over the years—and how much it has remained the same. I have always been struck by how clean a city Toronto is for its size, and that is still the case. What struck me this visit is that this very diverse and cosmopolitan city has become even more diverse. Part of the reason this visit was the number of international tourists who were enjoying Toronto and its mild summer weather. The other part is that it has become the home for an increasingly wide variety of people from around the world. It had as much—if not more—diversity than I experienced in New York last month. And what is equally noticeable is how well everyone seems to get along. This should give us hope.
This diversity really came home to me when I attended the 11 am worship service at the Anglican Cathedral not far from our hotel. This was the most traditional service at a very traditional church. It had choir and organ, smells and bells (literally), and the most traditional language of the rites in the Canadian Book of Common Prayer (think King James English). But as I looked around I saw people of a variety of ages, ethnicities and hues of skin color, and expressions of gender. As I saw this unlikely cross-section of people in this fairly traditional church, I wondered what it would be like if First Covenant represented the diversity around its church in its worship services? It seems unlikely at first, but we are reminded that what is impossible for humans is possible for God. (Luke 18:27) This snapshot of the diversity of God’s people together in worship should give us all hope and something to aspire to.
Another thing that should give us hope, is the promise that birth provides to families and communities. And so, I am delighted to share with you the news of the arrival of Alice Yeri Lee, born to Jurhee Hong and Sang Lee on August 5. Alice and her mother Jurhee, our soon-to-be interim Organist/Accompanist/Choral Leader, are doing fine. Prayers for the Hong-Lee family are welcomed as they adjust to being a family of three.
I also have hope for the creation of a realistic church budget for the current fiscal year. We have just signed a contract for the Northwest School to use our Summit Building for the next three years as their Arts Building. The steady income from this rental, combined with the stable and increasing parking revenue these first months of Premier Parking’s oversite of our parking garage together are things we should celebrate. Along with this, shortly you will be receiving news of a survey we will be providing, requesting that each giving unit in the church submit their intentions for their giving in the next 12 months. This survey will be anonymous, and is requested simply so we can better plan our budget around expected revenues.
At the same time, this is an opportunity to consider your stewardship and support of our church. This survey, as well as the on-going talent survey are all ways we can consider how we might be good stewards of the graces and opportunities God has afforded us here at First Covenant Church.
It was good to be away and gain a broader perspective on possibilities. It is better to be back to begin prayerfully discerning how we might together be the church that God has called us to be at just this time.
Pastor Todd