etcetera:

a note from Father Al…

Hey MRB — St. Mary Mag 😊

I want to take a moment to recap what I shared from the pulpit on April 12, and update us on where we are in the process. Over the past several years, something real has been forming among us. Not something new — but something we’re beginning to recognize more clearly.

Jesus has been meeting us.

Mending us.

Forming us.

And sending us into His world.

If you’ve been here for any length of time, you’ve seen it. Many of you have lived it. And now — that work is being seen and affirmed beyond us as well. After walking closely with us for years, Bishop Foley and our leadership in the Abbey believe we’re ready to take our next step: to transition from being a parish of the Abbey into a parish of the diocese.

This is a good and right step — a maturing. It means we’ll now walk alongside Mission Chattanooga and Mission Cleveland as sister parishes within the diocese.

The way it was described to me is simple: In a healthy family, children grow up. They don’t stop being part of the family — if anything, the relationship deepens — but they begin to carry what they’ve been given into a fuller expression of life. That’s what this moment is for us.

And with that step comes a name that reflects who we’ve become. In the coming weeks, Mission Red Bank will become:

Saint Mary of Magdala Anglican Community

This isn’t just a name change. It tells the truth about our story. Like Mary, we are a people:

who have been mended by Jesus

who are being formed as we walk with Him

and who are being sent to make a real contribution in His world

A people learning to come when He calls… and go when He sends.

A people who remain with Him — even when things feel unclear — and listen for His voice.

A people becoming more fully who we already are in Him.

There are still a few practical steps we’re finishing behind the scenes, but we’re very close. Our hope is to celebrate this transition together in June, with the expectation of being formally set apart as a parish — and me as your rector — on Father’s Day when the Archbishop is with us.

We’ll be holding a Town Hall on Sunday, May 3 to walk through this more fully, share details, and make space for your questions.

For now, I want you to hear this clearly:

This is good. This is steady. And this is the Lord’s doing.

I know transitions can bring questions — that’s natural. So let’s be kind to ourselves and one another as we walk into this next chapter with clarity, kindness, and trust — together 😊 My prayer is that this brings us joy — that we feel seen, affirmed, and invited into what’s ahead.

Saint Mary Mag —

a people mended by Jesus,

formed in His presence,

and sent by His Spirit

to do good in His world.

Much love —

Fr. Al

*Send your questions for the town hall meeting directly to Fr. Al at : al@missionredbank.org