Pastor Susan's Letter
Hello October
October is one of my favorite months of the year. The weather turns cooler, the leaves burst into colors, there are fun things to do like hayrides and festivals – and you can’t forget pumpkins – oh, how I love pumpkin spice coffee at WAWA!
October is a busy month in the church as well – committees get busy with meetings and making plans for the year; Harvest Home is celebrated, and don’t forget about our yearly observance of “Transformation Sunday” when we dress up like something we don’t usually look like and talk about how easy it is to transform yourself on the inside as you do on the outside. Trick or Treat everyone!
This month we are also starting to gather for “Visioning Sessions” – gatherings where we share ideas, plan for programs and projects that will help us grow our faith and become even better at being the disciples of Jesus Christ in this particular time and place. Our first gathering will take place on Sunday, October 11 right after worship. We’ll meet downstairs for coffee, cold drinks, sandwiches, chips, and snack items to enjoy while we brainstorm together. Start thinking now about ideas you hope to share with others.
We always say that our church may be little in size, but we are mighty in spirit – and we want to do more about that – more of doing good deeds, sharing our stories, and spreading love and kindness. And even if that means change – well, there’s the possibility that they’ll change for the better.
And there’s no better time to find that out than now because it’s -
Make sure you read the rest of this issue of the
newsletter to find out some of the plans that are
already in motion. Here’s just a few …
Harvest Home – windowsill decorations and donations of shelf food items for PACS.
Transformation Sunday – Dress Up & Trick or Treat
All Saints Sunday – candle lighting ceremony
Blessing of the Hounds on Thanksgiving Day
Hanging of the Greens Service at St. Peter’s UCC
Decorating the Church Event – Lunch & Caroling
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, during 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 appreciate 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.
She also completed her certification as a Reiki Master in 2013—the same year she came to our church, St. Vincent United Church of Christ. Additionally, she has participated in specialized training through the United Church of Christ to serve as an intentional interim minister, assisting churches during transitions from one settled pastor to the next.
In her early thirty-year career as an ordained minister, it became her calling to support churches during these transitional times, taking her to twelve different settings in local churches and 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 loves working with them in ministry settings.
That love is what brought her to St. Vincent United Church of Christ—her “lucky number 13” setting, as she likes to call it. When she arrived, it was to serve as a temporary supply pastor during our transition. However, we liked each other so much that we decided to continue 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 role, as she sees it, is to help all of us be the heart, hands, and voice of Jesus in our own time and place, to do good, make a positive difference, and leave the world a better place for 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 lives in Chester Springs. She has three grown children—daughter Laurabeth and son Eric live in the local area, while their daughter Lindsay and her husband Charlie reside in Alabama, where they are raising two grandchildren of whom Pastor Susan will be happy to show you pictures and share how wonderful they are—just like any proud grandparent.
Come, join us at St. Vincent United Church of Christ and meet our pastor. If you are looking for a worship experience that makes you feel good for having been here, then come and connect with us. We worship together every Sunday to share the spirit, the light, and the love of Jesus, creating a little heaven on earth and empowering us to take that love back out into the world we live in, where our ministry truly matters.