Message from Pastor Erin For the last several weeks, we've been reading through Matthew's gospel and Jesus's teaching to the twelve apostles sent out for missionary work. It is a fitting passage to read as we prepare for transition at Ravenswood Fellowship UMC. My time as your Interim Pastor is ending. Sunday is our last Sunday to worship together in this way. Oh so soon you will be welcoming your new pastor, Pastor Mori, as your leader and co-shepherd of this community.
As I read over Jesus's words to those disciples he sends forth, I think of the relationship between Interim Pastor (me) and fellow followers of Jesus (you all!). My job was to work with you and teach you to go out and share your faith. Jesus told the disciples to be prepared to go and share. My job was to work with you and help you make your space welcoming and hospitable. Jesus told the disciples to be prepared to welcome. Followers of Jesus go out into the community to invite people to experience the transformational power of living a life following Jesus. And followers of Jesus find those who need welcome the most and offer them a cool cup of water. Your job now, now that I will no longer be your Interim Pastor, is to be people looking for those to invite to church, looking for creative ways to demonstrate God's love outside of the walls of you building. And your job, as the community of God, is when people show up for worship, for membership, for questions, and with their curiosities, is to welcome them and say, "You belong here."
A community seeking to embody the very things of Jesus must constantly go out to tell the news that God is still at work and be prepared to welcome people who find the community, to make space for those who need rest from their search to find that community.
During my short time serving as your Interim Pastor, I learned that you all, the folks of Ravenswood Fellowship UMC, are people gifted at welcome. You are a place of hospitality and regularly invite people to join the conversation. I know that in this new season under Pastor Mori's leadership, you all will continue to invite people to experience God, share with them the good news that God is still working, and inviting them to be a part of your community to worship God.
I am so thankful for this time with you all and know that you will continue to grow and expand in you love for each other, your love for your neighbors, and your love for God.Thanks be to God for our time together!
Oh, and the church? Please join us online for Zoom worship. There will be lots of special music from Eriko and Kimiko Darcy. There will be gifts given and virtual hugs shared and pride to celebrate our LGBTQ+ siblings God created! I hope you can make it. Links and more information below. | 
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