Dear Friends,
It’s a joy to reconnect with you after our two-month summer break. Although the calendar says it has been a while, to me it feels like only yesterday that I began my new role in ministry here in Delhi, NY. These past two months have been a season of learning, discovery, and deep gratitude.
One of the most memorable moments was serving the Holy Eucharist for the very first time. I felt the Spirit moving among us, filling the moment with joy and reverence. Working through Scripture and shaping new themes for sermons has been both a spiritual discipline and a creative delight. I continue to discover what it means to serve as a priest through Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service.
At the same time, I’ve been learning to be present—not only within the church walls but also in the broader community. Visiting with members in their homes, being warmly welcomed, and praying that God would use me as a vessel of His love has been a great blessing. My time at the farmers’ market every Wednesday has allowed me to connect with many from our community; casual conversations and simple greetings have begun to build friendships. Some have received invitations to church, and I remain hopeful that the Spirit will continue to open the doors.
The men’s breakfast gatherings and the casual café meetings have also been rich opportunities to share ideas, stories, and even parts of my own Indian background while learning more about the history and culture of Delhi. My participation in SUNY Delhi’s student activities fair in August gave me the chance to meet eighty-eight students, share invitations to worship, and begin planting seeds of relationship that I pray will grow in the months ahead. I look forward to being present again at the Harvest Festival in September, where I will have the opportunity to meet students and their families and extend Christ’s welcome to them.
The children’s ministry, although quieter during the summer months, has already given me glimpses of joy. Even in small moments during children’s time, I find myself being called to embrace a childlike spirit in the ministry. I am also grateful to the staff of our church, who have been supportive and cooperative as I settle into this new role.
On a broader level, these past weeks have also been filled with opportunities to connect with colleagues in ministry—through the New England Conference’s new pastors’ orientation and through my growing relationships with pastors in the Farms and Forests Cooperative Parishes of the Hudson-Catskill District of the New York Conference.
Through all these experiences, I have come to see Delhi as a beautiful and welcoming place, and I am thankful to be serving this congregation and community.
As we enter this new season, I would like to close with a special word of blessing for our children who are starting another school year. May this year be filled with new friendships, fresh opportunities, and growth in knowledge and wisdom. May you know that God is with you in every classroom, every challenge, and every joy.
“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). And may you walk with trust in this promise: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6).
May God bless you all.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Prem
