Dear Fairlington Family,

I struggle to write this week’s congregational email because it is the last you will receive from me, as your Associate Pastor. I was looking forward with hopeful anticipation of meeting each of you in a post pandemic communal worship, but my time with you has been shortened with my family relocating to Pittsburgh. While I am saddened that the pandemic robbed us of our many communal practices, I am yet grateful that it has not robbed us of our life as a faith family, albeit virtual. 

It has been a delight watching the participant numbers increase every Sunday morning as we gather for Zoom worship. While your clergy team and amazing staff would like to take credit for you showing up (your eagerness to see our phenomenal worship planning skills executed), we know that you show up because this faith family matters to you. This faith family has loved you, supported you, and made space for you to “do the faith” in ways that are authentic to who you are as God’s beloved child. 

Your unwavering commitment to honor Jesus’ invitation of widening the circle for ALL, echoes this Sunday’s gospel reading. I hope you will join us for worship as we explore this lection further on Sunday. There might even be an opportunity for body movement during the “Act of Commitment” so you don’t want to miss worship!

Beloved, I am grateful for the privilege and opportunity to share virtual space with you this past year. I am grateful for the Spirit’s movement in our time together. And, I am most grateful to know that I am forever part of the fabric of the Fairlington Framily!  

Have a joy-filled weekend and I look forward to being with you on the Lord’s Day. 

Blessings,

Chenda