Dear People of St. Anneʼs,
One of the hardest things we ever do in this life is to say goodbye. That’s especially true when the years are many and the love runs deep. With profound gratitude for all we have shared these last thirteen years, I write to inform you that the time has come for me to leave St. Anne’s. After much discernment, I have accepted a new call to serve as the rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tallahassee. My last Sunday at St. Anne’s will be June 19.
St. Anne’s has been a part of my life since I was a teenager. Growing up in the Diocese of Georgia, wanting to be a priest, I often thought, “Lord, let me end up at a place like St. Anne’s one day.” Never did I imagine God would one day put me at St. Anne’s. Serving you has literally been a childhood dream come true.
We have shared a lot over the last thirteen years. You have supported Jay and me. You have helped us raise our children and have loved them unconditionally. You have given me the honor of standing with you in your moments of deepest tragedy and joy, and we have laughed, cried, prayed, and done beautiful ministry together. Plus, let’s be honest . . . we’ve also had a lot of fun together. I am so grateful for the church you are and for the priest you have helped me to become. It all truly has been “so good.”
When an Episcopal priest leaves a parish, it is customary that the pastoral relationship comes to an immediate end. That doesn’t mean we can never speak again, but it does mean that after June 19, I can no longer take pastoral texts, emails, or calls; officiate weddings, baptisms, or funerals; or discuss concerns about St. Anne’s with parishioners. Letting go of these pastoral ties is hard, but it is the best way to ensure a healthy transition during the interim and to the leadership of your new priest.
Fortunately, you are supported by an extraordinary group of lay leaders. Your Sr. Warden Sarah Cook and Jr. Warden Kathy Moreno will see you ably through the next steps, along with the help of your capable, committed vestry and staff. You will also have the direct support of Bishop Frank Logue and Canon to the Ordinary Loren Lasch, both of whom value St. Anne’s and are committed to walking alongside you. Most importantly, you will have the Holy Spirit, who has never let St. Anne’s down.
Goodbyes are hard, but they can also be holy. I look forward to the next few weeks of holy, heartfelt goodbyes as we share old memories, tell favorite stories, say our prayers, and give thanks to God for thirteen wonderful years of love, healing, forgiveness, and grace.
Grace and peace,
The Rev. Lonnie Lacy
Rector
Dear Church Family,
It is incredibly difficult saying goodbye to a pastoral leader who is as caring, loving, and dedicated to God as Fr. Lonnie. He continuously reminds us to look for God, look for grace, and to keep God nearby. It is because of those teachings that I want to remind you that God’s hand is in this entire process. There is a reason we say that a priest answers a call to a new ministry. In John 15:16, Jesus tells his disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit.” Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit . . . they call. Fr. Lonnie and the people of St. John’s Tallahassee have been in discernment and have listened to that call.
I would say that it is a call to St. Anne’s as well. As we prepare to lovingly send off our beloved Lacy family, we are also called to continue the good work that has been done at St. Anne’s since its founding in 1898. We must continue to love our neighbors, love God, and continue worship and formation. We have a robust youth program, something that has been prayed over for more than a decade. We must continue to support that growth. We have finally climbed our way out of an unprecedented global pandemic, and we must continue to welcome our neighbors to worship with us. We must continue to show up and be present. We must remember all of the many reasons that St. Anne’s is so good.
We will celebrate Fr. Lonnie and the Lacy family in the most St. Anne’s way possible: during the Holy Ghost Weenie Roast on Pentecost Sunday, June 5. Watch for details and please join us. After that, Fr. Lonnie will be with us two more weeks; his last Sunday will be June 19.
I am sure there are many questions about our parish, leadership moving forward, and more. I will tell you that all of those questions are on my heart as well. We have an abundance of resources and support in our Bishop Frank Logue and Canon to the Ordinary Loren Lasch, and Canon Lasch will meet with our vestry next week to begin formulating plans. The first step will be finding a capable interim rector to serve us through the transition. From there, we will work closely with Canon Lasch on next steps toward calling our next rector. It is important to remember that this new call will be on God’s time, not ours. Together with the Holy Spirit and the help of our Bishop and Canon, we will move steadily and purposefully through the process.
Please know that you all remain in my prayers in this time of transition. The staff and vestry are committed to continuing the excellence in worship and educational offerings to you and your family. We hope that the rector search process will be smooth, and we will work diligently to ensure continuity throughout our church’s work in the community. Please join with me in praying for God to guide us throughout this process.
Your servant in Christ,
Sarah Cook
Senior Warden
