September 12, 2018 in Bishop, Communications
A Welcome Greeting from Bishop Patricia A. Davenport
Hear a word of greeting and encouragement from our new bishop, the Rev. Patricia A. Davenport, as she takes office on August 1, 2018.
“Let me say with a grateful heart: I am honored to accept your call to shepherd Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod in her quest to do God’s work through our hands,” Bishop Davenport says.
“Beloved, we make a difference. I am so excited to work with our rostered ministers, our lay leaders, and our Synod’s mission partners to help build the kingdom of God in our midst.
“Yes, there is much we can do together. It starts with prayer. I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me, the Office of the Bishop, our synod organization and our ministry partners.
Watch or read the full message below. Download a PDF to share: Welcome Message from Bishop Davenport
August 1, 2018
Greetings, Beloved. Grace and peace to you in the name of the One who can do all things but fail, Jesus the Christ!
Let me say with a grateful heart: I am honored to accept your call to shepherd Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod in her quest to do God’s work through our hands.
“Come, Holy Spirit” was our assembly theme. I know the Holy Spirit is moving across our synod. I sensed the movement at our assembly in response to the scripture, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). You shared your faith stories; you told me how God is drawing you into a deeper relationship with Jesus causing you to act differently towards others.
I felt the energy, the excitement, the power as our 500 young people returned from our national youth gathering in Houston. They came home with a hunger and a thirst to do more to serve others in their communities.
I get chills when I think of the number of people who are praying in the Spirit with and for us that our Synod might be a stone cast upon the water that causes a ripple effect, not just in the ELCA but in our five-county area and throughout the nation.
We truly can do more together than we can alone, through our relationship with God that is reflected in our relationship with others. We are “Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered and sent for the sake of the world.”
Beloved, we make a difference.
I am so excited to work with our rostered ministers, our lay leaders, and our Synod’s mission partners to help build the kingdom of God in our midst.
Yes, there is much we can do together. It starts with prayer.
I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me, the Office of the Bishop, our synod organization and our ministry partners.
Now, please join me in a word of prayer.
Good and gracious God, we come to your throne of grace this day, a day to rejoice and be glad. Glad for new beginnings as we embark on this journey of kingdom building.
Continually open our hearts to your guidance, let us speak hope to those in despair, be a light to those in darkness, and servants to those in need. Let us celebrate with those who celebrate.
So, Lord, your children simply ask in the name of Jesus, that you bless us that we might be a blessing to all those who cross our paths.
In the name of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!
Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Patricia A. Davenport
Bishop
