Final Transition Note
Lo! He comes with clouds descending, once for our salvation slain; thousand, thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train; Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord returns to reign. – Hymn 57, 1982 Hymnal
The Vestry is happy to announce that the Reverend Michael Ruk has answered the call to serve as our Interim Priest in Charge, and will be joining us in that position beginning on February 11, 2024. What, you are likely wondering, does Interim Priest in Charge mean? The title is admittedly clunky, and is most easily defined as “not a Rector.” In the past, the parish has known “Interim” to mean certain things, and “Priest in Charge” to mean certain things, neither of which are entirely accurate now. Michael, to his credit, prefers to be called “just” a Priest. In this case, Interim Priest in Charge means that Michael will be with us for a few years during which we will get to know him and decide if we wish to call him to be our Rector. It is also a time for Michael to get to know us and determine, in equal measure, if he wishes to accept any such call. In any event, Michael is committed to helping us on our journey to find a Rector, whoever that may be, and in the meantime is looking forward to being “just” our Priest.
In our recent letter, the Vestry sought to formally introduce Michael and give you a sense of the credentials and qualifications that led us to extend the offer to join us. To add to that on a less formal note, let’s get to know the man behind the collar. Although Michael points to the Dave Matthews Band as his favorite musical artist, he cites “Lo! He Comes” as his favorite hymn – hence the opening quote. His favorite sports teams are the Philles and the Wings, possibly due in part to their superior grilled hot dogs and vanilla soft serve. Indeed, Michael and his partner John are looking forward to living in Ridley Park and the proximity we enjoy to the various sports venues. Michael’s app of choice is Facebook and he rates Asbury Park as his favorite shore town. A fan of all things Star Wars, Michael also enjoys any gathering that involves a BBQ (more grilled hot dogs), and his donut of choice is vanilla cream. His favorite family tradition is Wigilia, or the Polish Christmas Eve Meal, that upon Googling I learned involves 12 dishes that make me wish I was Polish. Michael is from Pittsburgh and despite his best efforts to modify his accent (known as “Yinzer”), the occasional “younze” creeps in. To that we can offer a hearty Delco fuggedabadit.
As we prepare to meet and welcome Michael, we are also preparing for the annual meeting to be held on January 28. At that time we will revisit the events of 2023, set the budget, and make plans for 2024. We will also be looking to elect three new Vestry members. Get involved! If you have ever given a thought to having a say in parish leadership and to helping with the decision making, please consider running for a seat on the Vestry.
-Sharon Cotter, Rector’s Warden