July Pastor's Pen
Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to God for the people of Sydenstricker and all of the ministries in which you are involved. It has been a joy to read and hear about your centennial celebration and your many diverse ministries. Even in the writing, the dedication and enthusiasm with which you reflect "Christ's Love in Action" is visible. SUMC has made a dynamic start to its second century in service to the kingdom of God, and I rejoice that I will join with you on this journey.
I come to you as a native son of Northern Virginia. I live in the house to which my parents brought me home at birth. I am really not that old, but I remember my father taking me hunting in Burke, and when I was in high school my best friend and I loved to drive the wilds of Sydenstricker and Hooes Road.
I come to you as a second career pastor after serving many years as an Elder Law attorney. Yes, I own up to my past. You wouldn't believe how many people have asked, how is it that a lawyer can become a pastor? But serving the legal needs of older persons and persons facing disability or incapacity was just a different stage of my ministry. You will, no doubt, hear more about some of these experiences.
Then, like the disciples whose hearts burned within them as Jesus revealed the scriptures to them on the road to Emmaus, I heard the stirrings of my call to ministry in Disciple Bible Study and my own Walk to Emmaus.
I have served in a variety of ministries and in most of the lay leadership positions of the church. I already know a few people at SUMC from my involvement in the Walk to Emmaus. For the past three years I have served as the sole pastor of Faith UMC in Alexandria. Oh, I discovered that I can be found in a photograph in your church directory. Can you find me? There are so many joys I long to share with you. The joy of worship, the joy of study, the joy of relationship, with our God, three in one, and with each other. It is in the fullness of these relationships that we, as individuals and as a congregation know eternal life and are empowered to serve the kingdom. I look forward to sharing in this service with you.
My wife, Sara, is the Director of Libraries for a law firm based in New York. Our daughter, Samantha, is entering her senior year at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington where she is the Drum Major of the Marching Generals and a rower on the varsity crew. You will see them participating with us from time to time, but they remain very involved in the life of the church from which I came to ministry, Clarendon UMC. They honor my call to ministry, and I honor God's call in their lives. We look forward to sharing with you the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit.
See you soon!
Pastor Garey