Last April, I preached a sermon in which I asked the question,” Do you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?” After the 9:30 liturgy, one man came up to me and said that he had never heard a sermon about that before. Other people came to me telling their own stories of personal encounters with Jesus Christ. Others said that the reality of God‟s presence was strengthened for them. I had been thinking about how we can help others to answer that question with a yes. The program for Evangelist training began in September and has continued through the fall, winter and spring. The E-100 program and free Bible Giveaway came out of the training. Seven Evangelists will be commissioned this year as part of our focus on evangelism and congregational development. The celebrations in the months of May and June help answer the question about a relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Think about it….

On May 14tth, 15th, and 21st we will be celebrating the Baptism of three new members of the Body of Christ.

On May 22nd we celebrate First Holy Communion, admitting children to the Eucharistic fellowship of the larger church. They will come forward to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, participating in the Meal of Presence as Christians have done for almost 2000 years.

On May 29th, Rogation Sunday, we will join in the Rogation procession and the blessing of the Parish Garden. The food grown there will be given away to a local food pantry. It is a thanksgiving for God‟s presence in creation and the gifts of God from the land.

On June 12th, the feast of Pentecost, the Rite 13 class will celebrate their coming to maturity in life and in the faith, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and moving to the next step on the deeper journey of faith.

On June 19th, Trinity Sunday, the church gathers to celebrate the fullness of the revelation of God in the Holy Trinity. Baptized, confirmed, received, fed in the Eucharist, rejoicing in the presence of God in the entire creation, we gather to affirm the mystery of the One Who creates time itself and Who yet lives in our midst. The parish evangelists will be commissioned to continue the work of the Gospel among us, and to begin some new initiatives.

All of the above point to the initiation and continuation of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It began at our baptism, is strengthened in the Eucharist and is confirmed by the profession of faith which is not ashamed to say “I don‟t have all the answers, but

I know Who to go to with the questions.” Far from making people feel uneasy, the question about a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit should be an occasion of reflective rejoicing. This May and June at St. George‟s, we aim to do just that.

Remember to say your prayers.

- Fr. Henry