One  year ago, after much searching on the part of Maranatha Lutheran Church, council chairs Sharon Heeralall (Maranatha) and Carolyn Hertzberger (St. Philip) signed an agreement to work in a covenant relationship together. The agreement means that the Carribean Lutheran congregation will have their own services and that St. Philip is their church home. Also agreed was the possibilities of sharing particular services and celebrations over the year, and that banners and altar arrangements for the seasons would alternate months. St. Philip meets at 9:30 am on a Sunday and Maranatha meets at 11:15 am for their service.

 

 

Our new sign out front of the church, noting the special celebration. And I see we need to correct one spelling next time around

 

When sharing a building, congregations also need to consider sharing kitchen space, storage for banners, serving dishes, as well a space for another pastor’s desk and an additional phone line.  A communications team handles any concerns that come up, and this far, we have worked together at accommodation and coordination, wherever needed.

The pastors have worked together as well. St Philip’s members were invited to Maranatha’s Black History month celebration, and Maranatha Lutheran has joined in combined Lenten services, especially those held at St. Philip over Lent. Also Christmas Eve service was shared in St. Philip’s sanctuary. Today the celebration marked the one-year anniversary and we look forward to more years with our sister church.

 

 

Pastor Rick Pryce (St. Philip) and Pastor Peter Kuhnert (Maranatha)

 

 

Today’s service was one of celebration, but there was also an emotional counterbalance. A mix of joy at the celebration and sadness as we’re bidding good-bye to Pastor Rick who will be heading east to Nova Scotia in a few weeks. I certainly felt the cross paths of emotion today. The joy at the lively music with the realization that friends are moving across the country. Pastor Rick  and his wife Deb have had a good effect on St. Philip in so many ways. We will miss them.

 

 

Worship assistant Cheryl greeting members at the close of the service, along with Pastor Rick and  Pastor Peter

 

 

 

Cheryl and Diane sharing  the peace

 

 

Deb Pryce with Alma

 

 

 

Checking out the dessert table at the celebratory lunch, with Monica and Angela

 

 

 

We are blessed with our pianist/organist and choir director Zhana Wohl just as Maranatha are blessed by their man of many talents. Ubaldo Rojas plays many instruments. I wondered if he could be a contender for Oktoberfest. Dinner music.

We had a mix of foods and I tried some different Caribbean food this time. The Jamaican patties were very tasty, and the punch tasted like watermelon.

 

Violet is seated at the far end and Angela close by.  There’s a lovely young woman in the middle whose name I do not know yet. Then Jean standing at the back

 

 

                                                                                                                                    More Maranatha ladies smiling for the camera

 

 

We had not only St. Philip and Maranatha represented, but also a family from Pastor Rick’s previous parish at Wellesley

 

 

 

Ubaldo Rojas and two fine looking ladies, then Katarina Kuhnert, Arlene Knight, Hanne Kuhnert and Pastor Peter Kuhnert

 

 

 

More posing for the camera

 

 

Eva at the end, then two more ladies whom I had not met before

 

Deb at the table with the members from Wellesley. You can see other members from both congregations

 

Another member of Maranatha, then Jean ( Eugenie) and Leonard whom I met at  a Lenten supper

 

I am pleased to greet our Maranatha sisters and brothers and know in time that I will learn more names. I came away hoping that more St. Philip members will share in future events.  We move on to our second year together.