Pastor’s Letter
Be An Angel
There is a long standing tradition in the theater that I have always cherished. People who want to be true patrons of the Arts will often donate to the work of a particular theater so that their work can continue uninterrupted.
Some people call themselves “angels”, but really, they are more like investors who expect a return on their investment. But true theater angels do it only for the love of the arts. The “return” on their investment is the joy of knowing they have contributed to a good cause.
The Arts - whether we are talking about theatrical and musical performances or art gallery showings or dance recitals are all important to us – through creativity, imagination, and inspiration, the arts help us to express feelings, share ideas, and even praise God – the source of all creation.
While the month of February often has us focusing on “love” because of St. Valentine’s Day – this February, I’d like to challenge us all to focus on becoming an angel for the work of God – assuring that our efforts at blessing others with his love and light will make a difference. In other words, to be a patron of the continuation of God’s work of love by investing our time, our talent, and our treasure in that effort.
What that means exactly is for each of us to become an angel of the church in the purest sense of the word – to aim through what we say and do to “be the church” in the world – to bless people with kindness in thought, word, and deed.
It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or talent or treasure on your part – just a little every day with good thoughts, kind words, positive deeds done for no other reason but to treat other people the way that we would like to be treated. Sounds so simple – and yet, so hard to do for many people.
Still you and me – we are not like those people. We have been chosen and we are encouraged to answer the call to be everything that God has hoped and dreamed we might become. A prophet once asked, “What does God require of us? – but to act with justice, to be merciful in all our ways, and to walk in humility with God at your side all the days of your life.” (Micah 6:8)
If every person lived into this requirement, the world would be a more fair, more grace-filled place for all of us to live – a place where “peace and good will for all” would be the way of things for everyone. But since this is not so - the best of us must be angels of the work of the church for the rest of us. This month, I encourage you to look deep into your heart and answer your call to be a patron angel for the church so that God’s will may be done here on earth as it is done in heaven. May God’s blessings shower upon you as you answer the call to be an angel. With love and gratitude for you!
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.