25 years at St. John's! - Rector's Rambling for February 15, 2026

Welcome back, Bishop Gibbs!  We are honored to have you back with us to celebrate and preach at the 10 AM Mass today.

The Bishop is here today because he is a part of the reason I am here today!  Back in November of 2000, I had already had a phone interview with the search committee for St. John’s, and they asked me to come out to Detroit for an interview.  I sat down for a chat with my then bishop in the Diocese of Pittsburgh to discuss it with him.  He encouraged me to also meet with Bishop Gibbs while in town, to get a sense of whether this newly enthroned diocesan bishop and I would be able to work together.  I called Bishop Gibbs’ office to make that appointment, which we had the morning before I met at lunchtime with St. John’s Search Committee.

Apparently my being interviewed was a surprise to the diocesan offices, surprised that St. John’s was beginning to interview candidates already. But Bishop Gibbs was open to the possibility that I might be the right man for the job, and as we see now, 25 years later, things seem to be working out.

Let me start by expressing my gratitude not only for Bishop Gibbs’ willingness to allow my application to go forward, but more importantly to Almighty God for calling me to be here at St. John’s.  When I moved to Philadelphia for college in 1984 I never thought I would live in Michigan again.  But 16 and a half years later I was moving back home with Jennifer and our first three children, all under the age of 5.  It is all by God’s grace that my heart was opened to this call. And it is also by His grace that the Search Committee and Vestry discerned this call for me to be here. 

But the gratitude does not stop there.  I am so grateful for the people of this parish, those who were here when I came, for those here now, and everyone in between. 

The most wonderful thing about St. John’s isn’t the building, location or history, but the parishioners!  I am so grateful for everyone here for worship, and for all who pitch in to make this parish such a warm, inviting, and faithful church.  Whether in the kitchen, ushering in the narthex, organizing in the sacristy, serving at the altar, reading the lessons, singing in the choir, serving on the Vestry, working in the office, or joining in for a volunteer work day or outing, the people of this parish are wonderful and I am so grateful to be a part of what God is doing through everyone here.

Since my arrival in 2001 we have had 275 baptisms, 138 burials, and 96 weddings.  Flipping through the parish registers at the names of those recorded therein, memories come flooding back of all the people now departed, moved away or moved on.  And then I look out into the pews on Sunday at the many long time parishioners as well as the new people who have joined our ranks in the last few years and I am humbled that Our Lord has called me to be a part of this all!

Thanks be to God, and Thank You!