Pastor’s Letter
Six Stories for Summertime Spiritual Life
The summer months are when we take time to do some of the things we want to do all year long but can’t because of work and school and responsibilities. In the summer though, we slow down, take more time for leisure and travel and visits with loved ones. But our relationship with God need never take a vacation – for God is always with us. And we need to stay connected with him to help us face all the challenges in life with faith, trust, hope, confidence, love, and a good attitude. So, here are six little stories to help guide us in our spiritual lives during this summer …
Once a village of people decided they would gather in the center of town to pray for much needed rain. As they met to pray, one little boy arrived carrying an umbrella. That is faith.
When we throw babies into the air and we all laugh because we know that we will catch them again – that is trust.
Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but we still set our alarms to wake us up. That is hope.
We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of not knowing what tomorrow will bring – that is confidence.
We see suffering in the world and yet, we get married, we have children, we adopt pets to care for. That is love.
An old woman was seen wearing a t-shirt that said: “I am not 80 years old – I am sweet 16 with 64 years of experience.” That is having a good attitude about aging and valuing the quality of life.
I imagine you have your own stories that encourage positive thinking and the practice of good habits using faith and trust, hope and confidence, and love to maintain a good attitude about life. Take some time this month to remember them and let them guide you through the summer.
Keep in mind what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians (4:8) “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, and pure, lovely, and admirable; whatever is excellent and praiseworthy – think on these things” – for these good thoughts will lead us to living better lives. And living better lives will bring us more happiness, better health, and that sense of wholeness we long for in these coming summer months. May God so bless us this summer and always. Love, 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.