Dear Glen Mar friends,

I write this from our BWC Annual Conference Meeting, where the theme for our year is “It’s all about love.” We have just had spirited and wonderful worship, and meaningful preaching from our Bishop about Jesus’ commandment to love one another as Jesus has loved us. (A highlight for me was the praise song, “The Goodness of God” which we sing at the 11 o’clock service (Wendy, I always hear your voice when I sing this…). I’m grateful for the faithfulness of 6 Glen Mar folks who are here with your pastors, doing good work, learning and holy conferencing. Pastor Melaina was “approved for ordination” in our Clergy Session today and that will happen as part of worship on Saturday!

We are having our first “Outdoor Summer Market” tomorrow, Thursday, June 1 from 3-6:30 in our lower parking lot. Come bring your best Glen Mar “welcome” for our vendors and neighbors. We’ll have the Market every Thursday In June (and maybe beyond!).

This Sunday, we’ll have Holy Communion together and, in addition to Sunday morning worship at the normal times, we’ll have the pleasure and privilege of confirming a great group of youth at a special confirmation service at 4 pm on Sunday as well. I hope you’ll come to both, to show your support and excitement for growing disciples and your love for these particular disciples! We’re inviting folks to wear orange on Sunday to honor and remember victims of gun violence this Sunday as well.

I wanted to remind folks that if you are thinking of joining Glen Mar, we have a one-session “new member class” that is required. We’re having our next one of those this Sunday June 4 at 12:30 (with lunch included!). If you’d like to come, register here.

Looking a bit ahead, we’ll have our all-church picnic on June 11, with a great BBQ menu by our own George Dohner. We want to have plenty of food for all. To let us know you are coming, register here.

As followers of Jesus, we know we are called to love, not as an emotion, but an action. We know that love is love when it is practiced, not merely proclaimed. May all that we do and all that we are, love one another as Jesus has loved us.

See you in Church,

Pastor Mandy Sayers

PS We will have a Celebration of Life Service for Marion Boswell (Libby’s mom) on Saturday June 10 at 2 pm at Glen Mar. It will also be livestreamed on our website. Please come show love to Marion’s family and honor the life of one of Glen Mar’s saints.