Pastor’s Letter – C
Everywhere around us things are changing – we see it in nature as the leaves change colors and fall from the trees creating hills and valleys in our yards that were not there before the Fall. To some people that might be annoying, but to the tiny creatures who burrow under those leaves for protection, this change is a good thing. We see changes in the weather that challenges us by changing from cold in the morning to hot in the afternoon and back to cold again at night. You never know what you’ll find when you step outside your home. To some people that might be frustrating – but to those who embrace change, it can be exciting. It all depends on your attitude.
And a big change that shows our attitude is right here in our Sanctuary. To help us celebrate the season of Harvest Home and Thanksgiving, our Sanctuary comes alive with color and decorations and generous donations of shelf food items for local food banks and school age children in the local school district. On our windowsills, we see the beauty and bounty of God’s good creation from outside brought inside in wonderful ways. And that reminds us that all the good things that God provides for us on this earth can be reflected in the good things we say and do to make all our lives better. Change can be challenging – but it can also be good for us.
Well there is one thing about change – we don’t always control it and we can’t stop it and it will be a challenge for us no matter what. But we can adjust our attitude and do what we can to bring good things out of that change. In every one of our lives we have been blessed in some way. This is the time of year to recognize and celebrate those blessings. And change – well, that can be a blessing too when we make it so.
This season of Harvest Home and Thanksgiving is the perfect time for us to practice having a good attitude about what is happening in our lives – especially what is happening inside of us. To know what that is we have to be paying attention to how we feel, what we think, why we react the way that we do or don’t. Listen to your heart, let your mind explore ideas, lay down your burdens at the feet of Jesus in the midst of prayer and let Jesus guide you more completely.
Doing so might change you – but it might mean that you will become more and more the YOU that God has always hoped and dreamed you would become. And that would definitely be a good thing.
Blessings, Peace, and Love to you now in this season and always, Pastor Susan
About Our Pastor
This is our pastor, Reverend Susan Hanson,
She was ordained in the United Church of Christ at her home church, St. John's UCC in Lansdale, PA on January 9th, 1994 in the middle of a winter weather event of snow and ice. That storm didn't stop their celebration that day - and she hasn't stopped serving in the ministry since then – no matter what. We like that about her - and you will too when you get to know her.
Pastor Susan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development from Florida State University; a Master of Divinity degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary; and a Master of Arts
degree in Pastoral Counseling from Moravian Theological Seminary.
And she completed her certification as a Reiki Master in 2013 – the same year she came to our church. She's also participated in specialized training through the United Church of Christ to serve as an intentional interim minister to churches while they are in transition from one settled pastor to the next.
Early in her thirty year career as an ordained minister, it became her calling to assist churches during these times of transition, taking her to twelve different settings in local churches, as well as chaplaincy positions in nursing home facilities. She'll tell you that she “has seen it all, heard it all, been through it all” with the people she's met – and even so, she still likes people and loves working with them in ministry settings.
That love is what brought her here to St. Vincent UCC – her “lucky number 13” setting as she likes to call it. When she arrived, it was to serve as a temporary supply pastor while we were in transition. But, we liked each other so much, we decided to just stay together on a permanent basis. In April, 2018, Rev. Hanson was installed as our settled pastor.
Our pastor believes that ministry is something we all do when we strive to be like Jesus and follow his ways. Her job, as she sees it, is to help all of us be the heart and hands and voice of Jesus in our own time and place and in our own way – so that we will do good; make a positive difference; and leave the world a better place for us having been here. She says, “That's the way real ministry happens – one gracious thought, one good word, one act of kindness - one moment at a time”.
Susan and her husband, Doug, who is also an ordained pastor at St. Peter's Pikeland UCC, live in Chester Springs. They have three grown children – their daughter Laurabeth and son Eric live in the local area. Their daughter Lindsay and her husband Charlie live in Alabama where they're raising the two grandchildren of whom Pastor Susan will be happy to show you pictures and tell you how wonderful they are – just like any other proud grandparent.
Come, join us – and meet our pastor. If you are looking for a worship experience which makes you feel good for having been here – then, come and meet us. We worship together every Sunday to share the spirit, the light, and the love of Jesus and become empowered to take it with us when we go back out into the world in which we live and for whom our ministry really matters.