Sunday will not only be a special day because it's the third Sunday of Advent — it will be the day we honor our associate minister, Rev. Claire Marich, who retires at the end of the month. Claire will be preaching both at Wesley Oak's 9:30 a.m. service and Asbury's 11:15 a.m. service. Following the service at Asbury, there will be a reception held in Claire's honor in Holliday Hall.

Claire, of course, has helped lead us in our worship services and has made major contributions in our Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, and Adult Ministries. She has been a major force in our Congregational Care. I especially am grateful for how she and Candace Jenkins made a special effort to stay connected with our parishioners during the pandemic by making porch visits. During this season of Advent, I am reminded of how Claire helped us stay connected last Advent by getting every church member an ornamental candlelight bag to have in our homes for the Advent season. One of Claire's major impacts with Congregational Care is the development of our Stephen Ministry. We had been talking about having a Stephen Ministry for many years, but Claire and Candace have helped turn that dream into a reality, and it is impacting lives in a great way.

Another focus of Claire's ministry has been connecting Asbury to our community. She tirelessly has championed events and ministries focused on Race Relations, LGBTQ Rights, Gun Violence, Women's Issues, Addiction Ministries, and all kinds of social justice issues. She even trained with the police department to become a police chaplain. 

Serendipitously, not long after Claire came on staff, we got word that a new social justice ministry was trying to be formed in Savannah that would try to unite many congregations in order to make a greater impact in our community. This led to the formation of JUST (Justice Unites Savannah Together) which has worked hard on our housing issues in our community and will soon be working on need for better Education for all in our community. Claire has had a leadership role in JUST and has helped the members of Asbury become active in its work,

When a minister is married, the minister's spouse must be recognized for their contribution to the spouse's ministry and to those who benefit from it. It takes a special person to deal with the demands and flexibility needed when married to a clergyperson. We thank, John and son, Peter, for sharing Claire with us.

Fortunately, Claire, John, and Peter are remaining in Savannah, and Claire will still be with us to lean on from time to time. We'll give her a little break from us for several months so she can get her bearings in this new phase of life. But we are thankful that she will continue to help us be the hands and feet of Christ within our church family and in the community.

Claire has designed a wonderful worship service for this Sunday as we continue to seek shalom during Advent. The choir and J.J. Collins will be bringing us music to soothe the soul. The third Sunday of Advent usually focuses on Mary, the mother of Jesus. So come and be with us as we honor two incredible women this Sunday, Mary and Claire.

Love & Blessings,
Billy