Dear Fremont Family:

It has been a moment since I have been in communication with you through a Pastor’s weekly email, and I wanted to take some time today to reconnect.

First, thank you for giving me some time and some space to enter into my grieving process following the death of my mother on April 2nd. These past weeks have been an emotional roller coaster ride, and your kindness and grace extended to me during this time have been an incredible gift. I am definitely still taking things one day at a time, but I feel the love and strength of your prayers for me. Thank you.

Second, I wanted to say hello from Boise. I am here attending the Northwest Leadership Institute with ministry colleagues. Our new Bishop, Rev. Dr. Cedrick Bridgeforth, will be giving the keynote address this evening. I had the opportunity to meet him briefly this morning, and I look forward to learning more about his life and vision for our shared ministry together. Another highlight is a Panel conversation scheduled for tomorrow regarding our Western Jurisdiction. The UMC is headed for some deep changes in the wake of our denominational split. Jurisdictional leaders will talk to us about where we are headed and what we might expect for the near future.

I am glad to be here to visit with colleagues, to be renewed in worship, and to listen and learn about important shifts in ministry.

I also look forward to coming home and getting back into the swing of things in our shared life together at Fremont. I know I will continue to need to attend to my grieving, but I am thankful that I get to walk with such a beautiful community of disciples of Jesus Christ.

See you Sunday!

Grace and peace,

Erin