Hello, fellow pilgrims. You will notice that we will begin putting our Camino logo on the front of our bulletins this Sunday. I’ve spent several weeks walking us through the details of our spiritual camino together, and we are about to begin this journey with the start of the new program year. It will be part of everything we do: adult forum, Bible Study, stewardship, fellowship, outreach, and worship. You will notice something new in the sanctuary, as well.
We are beginning a bright new year filled with hope and excitement! As we walk together along this Camino of St. James’, Mt. Airy, let’s really get to know each other. Let’s really get to know ourselves. Let’s really get to know and love Christ and community—together.
This Sunday is our program-year kick-off. We will be welcoming one another back from vacations, registering youths for Sunday School, ramping up for Bible study and Advent, preparing for a beautiful wedding in our sanctuary, and diving into our annual Basket Raffle fundraiser! Our space will be abuzz with activity, and I cannot wait to hear all about your summertime adventures!
If you would like a refresher on what our Camino is all about, you can find concise descriptions in this newsletter going back to June 25th through August 6th. You can also find it on our website, and I will have copies in the entryway to our church. I will also be reviewing it again during adult forum. Stay tuned for those dates.
In the European Camino de Santiago, there is an encouraging expression that is used when walkers greet one another along the way. It is:
Greeting: Ultreia!
Response: et Suseia!
It means:
Greeting: Onward!
Response: and Upward!
We, too, can use this greeting to encourage one another to come to church, find rest in community, participate in our ministries, engage in fellowship, invite friends to join us, support our church’s financial well-being, and build relationships with our fellow Christians—to love and serve Christ and one another.
We are in this Camino together!
May we encourage one another along The Way to continue pushing onward toward community and upward toward Christ!
Remember:
Every pilgrim arrives by a different road, and we all converge at Christ.
Ultraeia et Suseia!
You are Beautiful and you are Beloved.
Angela+