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Dear San Marco Church Family: As I begin my second year serving San Marco Church, I have been reflecting upon our church culture and praying for God’s leading in how we move into the future. I see many positive aspects of our community, and I pray that we can leverage those aspects to bless the wider San Marco neighborhood. We are a church that emphasizes inclusivity. I have observed that we practice being inclusive with sensitivity and balance. By this I mean that while we make a point to welcome all new persons, regardless of their background, we also do a good job of not smothering new people as soon as they walk through our doors. We seem to have an intuitive understanding that some people need space to build trust in a new community. We allow people space while also offering welcome and hospitality. Many churches, including some that I have served, do not do this so well. We are a church that believes that all Christians are called to “act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” I am inspired by the ways our members engage important local justice issues, including standing up for the rights of those negatively impacted by practices such as redlining. I know that some of you have been proactive in your prayers and outreach to those in our immigrant communities who live in fear. A church whose members demonstrate genuine care for others is a church worthy of trust. May we always strive to earn the trust of each person we encounter, as God is glorified in this way. We are a church filled with people who believe that living into our faith must always involve a combination of our heads, our hearts, and our hands. By this I mean that we are a church of intelligent people who seek understanding as we live into our faith. We do not give up our intellect in order to follow Christ, and we also adopt the maxim that real faith requires physical action and heartfelt connection with other people. I am grateful that we have this comprehensive approach to faith. As you can see, we have many reasons to be hopeful. What I ask of you is that you do not hesitate to reach out to me with ideas about sermon topics, ways that we can reach out to the community, and especially any ideas you have about how we can best promote a comprehensive idea of stewardship. This Sunday, July 20, we continue the series entitled “Epic Meltdowns of Biblical Proportions.” The scripture for this week is Job 3. I encourage you to read it before worship. I look forward to seeing you this weekend, and I appreciate your ongoing prayers! Steve Hart
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