Dear St. Thomas,

I am grateful to be writing to you as your next pastor. Please mark your calendars for November 1, which will be my first Sunday at St. Thomas, and for November 8, when I will be formally installed by the Presbytery of Detroit as your next pastor. 

Following the installation, I will be piloting a couple of Zoom groups in hopes of becoming better acquainted with you. Starting Monday, November 9 at 6:00 PM,

I will be facilitating a weekly group that I am calling

"First Look" in which we will reflect on the next Sunday's preaching text. This group will meet every Monday for six weeks. Then, we will discern next steps together.

The other Zoom group that I will be offering after I arrive will be called "Coffee and Conversations." 

Conversations on topics that will be announced ahead of time will be offered monthly at two different dates and times to accommodate as many schedules as possible. I hope that you will be able to join the Wednesday morning or the Sunday afternoon group.. For now, the plan is to meet monthly through the end of May.

Look for links to these meetings in upcoming church communications. Until it is safe to have face-to-face large group gatherings at the church, we will have to be creative. For now, please note that I am eager to get started St. Thomas, and consider this letter one of many virtual hugs.

Grace and peace,