RENEW DETROIT - Rector's Rambling on September 21, 2014

On Friday we had a special parish dinner and meeting, at which were discussed important topics such as new initiatives for outreach, the various ministries of the parish internally, and the sharing of updates on the proposed development of our neighborhood, including the possibility of the building of an apartment building on a portion of our parking lot.

As I write this column, that meeting has not occurred yet.  But one thing that I want to share here is the new logo, designed by Ms. Jennifer Dunn.  Jennifer, who works in Senior Warden Bruce Burton’s office, used the existing and well loved line sketch of the church, and superimposed a motto for the work of the coming years, Renew Detroit.

It is a wonderful reality that St. John’s sits in the middle of the renewal of Detroit.  Begun 14 years ago with the building of Comerica Park and Ford Field, but stalled by the recession, we now see the neighborhood being renewed and developed further in exciting ways.

But for us, Renew Detroit means more than arenas, apartments, retail, and rail-lines.  St. John’s is poised for a more important renewal – the renewal of the heart and soul of Detroit through faith in Jesus Christ!  Ultimately our existence is for this mission: to know Christ and to make Him known.  Our worship and ministry is geared to this renewal, beginning with the deepening of our own faith, and just as importantly the sharing of it to bring others into a relationship with Jesus.

It is a new logo, but it is the original mission of the parish.  Renew Detroit that all may know that Jesus Christ is Lord!