Dear Friends,
At the beginning of a Baptism service, the celebrant says, "There is one Body and one Spirit" and the congregation replies: "There is one hope in God's call to us. " This is a profound truth that if we listen, we hear God's call to us...words, spoken or unspoken about how we might live, where our energies and our ministry will thrive from one season to the next.
Today I am writing to let you know that our Director of Youth Ministry, Karl LaClair, has been called to a new position as the Christian Chaplain at Brandeis University beginning in August. This newly created Christian Chaplain position is full-time, and will use and expand Karl’s considerable gifts working with young people in a diverse environment. We will miss him and we give thanks for the work he has done this year to launch programs at Trinity for Middle School and High School youth, and for his dynamic leadership of our Confirmation program. We are grateful for his time with us, the seeds that have been planted for our young people, his gift of preaching, and the relationships deepened as a result of his ministry among us.
We will celebrate Karl and wish him well on Sunday, June 26. Karl will preach that day at both the 8 am and 10 am services and we will have a coffee hour sendoff on the Elm Street porch following the 10 am service.
On Sunday, July 10 at 11 am Karl will meet with middle and high school youth for the last time for goodbyes and prayers, and perhaps some pizza!
While we are so very sad to lose Karl from our staff, we can rejoice that the Holy Spirit is always at work in our lives, calling us to new adventures, new ministries, new life. Please pray for him as he begins this new season, and for our Trinity community as we have been blessed by his presence among us this past year.
If you have questions, or wish to help with the search process for the next Dir. of Youth Ministry, please reach out to me at hagner@trinityconcord.org or 978-369-3715, ext. 12.
Trusting in the Spirit,
Nancy+
A Message from Karl
Dear Trinity family,
This past year, serving as your Director of Youth Ministry, has been such a blessing in my life. Your commitment to the youth of the parish is evident in your instant support of me, and my ministry, from day one! For this, I am deeply grateful.
Through the grace of building a new youth ministry program here at Trinity, I have found myself called into a new role at Brandeis University as their first ever Christian chaplain. In my time with you at Trinity, God has strengthened both my ability and passion for building Christian community among young people. This new opportunity at Brandeis will allow me to continue in that work in a new and vibrant way.
To the youth I've had the privilege to minister with, thank you so much for your playfulness, your openness, and your honesty this past year. As we put together this new program, it was so much fun having your creative spirits accompanying me!
While I regret that our time together will be coming to an end, please know how much I have learned from all of you and your witness to the wonder of God in our Church. I take this wisdom into my next stage of ministry confident that what you have all shared with me will continue to bear fruit. Be assured of my continued prayers for the ever-growing ministry here at Trinity and I ask that you hold me in your prayers as well.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Karl LaClair