Thank you!

Dear Friends,

Just over a year ago after the death of the long time Mustard Seed leader Isobel, your then rector asked Kathryn Newman to take on the leadership of the Mustard Seed. With the help of several devoted volunteers and the labor of her husband Harry, Kathryn undertook this ministry. Kathryn has stepped away from the ministry because of Harry’s health challenges and following the death of her mother. Thank you, Kathryn, for stepping in and leading this important ministry! We are all grateful to you. Thank you volunteers for stepping up and keeping this significant ministry going!

So, now this ministry is in an important time of transition. While it may be frustrating to some, I have not gone on an anxious hunt for someone to fill Kathryn’s place. Instead, I have asked volunteers to meet with one another and me to talk about what they envision is the ministry of the Mustard Seed going forward. We know from these conversations that the Mustard Seed provides a source of outreach for the church, both in terms of funds for these ministries, as well as a place for the community to meet and converse. It is a place where we receive gently used items that range from houseware to clothing that can be repurposed or sold as treasures. We know that volunteering gives satisfaction and purpose to those who do this. One small shop, open three days a week, accomplishes a great deal of ministry by its existence.

Where we go from here is a challenge in this day and age.  I am hoping that we can create a leadership team for the Mustard Seed, that recruits volunteers, schedules them, and manages the influx of objects left every week, and continues to be a place of welcome for shoppers, and “just lookers”. Much as the money the Mustard Seed makes helps the bottom line of the church and sustains our grocery card ministry, the human connections matter more.

This is my invitation to you to speak to me about the Mustard Seed, to volunteer a few hours a week or a month, to listen to how we keep sustaining this remarkable ministry. Thank you, Mustard Seed volunteers, and Kathryn and Harry. Let’s work together to sustain this wonderful ministry.



God's peace and keeping,

Mary +