A Letter from The Rev. Michael E. Snider II

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 1:3)

The spring of 2020 forged two new realities at St. Joseph’s.

The first was my call as their fourth Rector within their thirty-eight years of ministry. As the Rector, I have tried my best to draw on my many years of truly diverse ministry experience. Over the last twenty years, I have been blessed to serve the body of Christ in mission churches with as few as six worshipers on a Sunday all the way up to Parishes with four hundred worshipers on a Sunday with locations as varied as West Virginia coal camps, downtown urban, suburban, waterfront, time forgotten farmland, and Newberry with its blend of city-dwellers and country-folk.

The second reality was the impact on our lives caused by the Covid-19 virus, division caused by political elections, and the retirement of our long serving Bishop. We have weathered the many changes we have had to face over the last six years by leaning into the truth that God never leaves us nor forsakes us. In light of that reality, we continue to strive to build a church community where ministry equips, encourages, and empowers all people to follow Jesus Christ.

Over the six years together, we have come to understand ourselves as “the little church in the woods where you can find rest for your body and your soul.” We have done our best to be an oasis from the chaos plaguing our lives by engaging people where they are in their life’s journey and accepting them as they are rather than measuring them against some preconception of holiness.

The focus of my work at St. Joseph’s over the last six years has been to build an environment of gratitude for the atoning work that Jesus did on the Cross and the forgiveness He made available for all of us. Life at St. Joseph’s revolves around the belief that as followers of Jesus Christ we are called to worship God, make disciples of Jesus Christ, and bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).

I continue to believe that the one true purpose of the church of Jesus Christ is to make, nurture, and send disciples of Jesus Christ into the mission field. I want every person to know that Jesus Christ’s atoning work on the cross and His forgiveness of sin is available for every single man, woman, and child. It is my hope that all who come to St. Joseph’s will find a sacred space that provides opportunities and resources for everyone to grow in their personal faith and to share that faith with others. On any given Sunday, you are likely to find children of God of all ages serving as ushers, lectors, acolytes, coffee hour hosts, and pastoral care visitors.

God has done and continues to do many amazing wonders at St. Joseph’s. It has been a joy and a blessing to serve the body of Christ as the Rector of St. Joseph’s Newberry for the last six years. I hope and I pray that you will consider joining us as God leads you.

In Christ’s Name,

The Rev. Michael E. Snider II