As you read this message, I’m preparing to leave for a week of continuing education. The gift of continuing education is that it offers a change of scenery for me to be inspired and energized by learning and conversation in topical areas that will enrich my priestly duties in the parish. Next week, I will be attending a theological conference at Pusey House, Oxford, UK, entitled “Restoring the Image: Creation, Salvation, and the Human Person.” This conference will feature twenty different theologians from across the world, many of whom are giants in their field. I’m very much looking forward to being further educated and invigorated by this conference. The topic at hand is one of great interest to me, and I believe it will strengthen my own teaching and preaching within the parish. I’m grateful for the vestry’s recommendation that the parish fund this continuing education opportunity.
This coming Sunday, July 6, after arriving in Oxford, I will be preaching at St. Barnabas Church, Jericho, a sister Anglo-Catholic parish across the pond. I appreciate the kind invitation of their vicar, Father Christopher Woods. Through our mutual friend, the Rev. Dr. Sarah Coakley (a friend of this parish), Fr. Christopher and I have learned that St. Barnabas and Good Shepherd were both founded in 1869! While in Oxford, Fr. Christopher and I will further discuss the similarities between our two parishes and how we can creatively meet the challenges of modern parish ministry while living into the fullness of our Anglo-Catholic traditions.
While I’m away, I’m thankful for the presence of our supply priests (Fr. Raymond Harbort, Fr. Edward Godden, and Fr. Walter Thorne). Additionally, our summer seminarian, John Hager, parish administrator, Renee Barrick, and financial administrator, Mary Campbell, are doing much to ensure that the daily operations of the office continue uninterrupted. Members of the vestry and other lay leaders are stepping in to help while I’m away. Thank you!
As I reflect on the topic of continuing education, I’m reminded of the importance of Christian formation within our own parish. Our summer formation series will continue even while I’m away. If you’ve attended our meetings this summer, you will know that our overall theme is “Lives Shaped by God.” With the recent distribution of refrigerator magnets announcing special sung liturgies for 2025-2026, we’re making an intentional effort to announce parish events well in advance so that you will have an opportunity to mark them on your calendars. The liturgical calendar is a major way in which our lives are shaped by God.
I’m also pleased to make you aware of our recently published parish events calendar for the 2025-2026 program year. You can find this calendar on our parish website. Please review this calendar carefully and put the dates on your calendar. There are many exciting offerings! I especially draw your attention to our online (Zoom) formation series beginning in September. You will find information about topics and presenters on our website, as well as in the parish events calendar. My hope is that by moving monthly adult formation classes online, we will reserve Sunday coffee hour for fellowship and other conversations. Additionally, we would love for Friends of the parish to join us from across the country (and world) for the online formation series by logging onto Zoom. Stay tuned for parish email announcements with the Zoom links for those presentations. I also draw your attention to a Lenten parish retreat on March 7 led by Brother Ephrem Arcement of the Order of the Holy Cross. I hope you will make a point of attending this retreat, which is intended to draw us into a more fulsome understanding of the spirituality of parish life.
While I’m away, should you have any pastoral emergencies, please call the parish office (610-525-7070), and you will find information about how to contact priests who will be on call to respond to your needs. I will not be checking email while I’m away. For non-emergency requests, you may email the parish office. After attending the conference in Oxford, which ends on July 9, I will be on vacation until July 24. I will miss you while I’m traveling. Thank you to those who are helping with the sustenance of our Daily Office schedule while I’m away. Please note the changes to the daily Mass schedule in the next few weeks by visiting the news page of our website. I’ll look forward to seeing you when I return.
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle