For Such a Time as This

I never imagined I would end up at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

A few years ago, my life and calling looked very different. I was deeply involved in the United Methodist Church and was on track toward ordained ministry. The church had shaped me, formed me, and given me opportunities to grow in faith and leadership. I believed that path would define the rest of my life. But sometimes, faithfulness comes with heartbreak.

As decisions were being made within the denomination, I found myself wrestling deeply with my conscience. I loved the church and the people in it, but I could not shake the feeling that some of those decisions were causing hurt to people I loved and cared about. The weight of that realization sat heavily on my heart. After much prayer, discernment, and grief, I made the painful decision to step away. It was devastating.

When you build your life around ministry, leaving can feel like losing not just a job or a community, but part of your identity. I honestly believed my church career was over. I wondered if I had misunderstood my calling entirely. For a season, I felt untethered. I threw myself into music, teaching lessons and preschool classes. It was a time of restoration.

And then, two years later, God surprised me. I discovered St. John’s.

What began as an opportunity to serve as Director of Communications slowly became something much deeper. From the very beginning, this parish welcomed me with warmth and grace. There was room here for questions, healing, and rediscovering joy and purpose in the church again. Little by little, St. John’s helped put my heart back together.

The more I learned about the Episcopal Church — its sacramental life, its reverence for tradition, its commitment to beauty, justice, and thoughtful faith — the more I fell in love with it. I found myself drawn not only to the rhythms of worship, but to the people of this parish who embody Christ’s love so generously. Looking back now, I can see God’s hand at work even in the moments I thought everything was falling apart.

The story of Esther has become especially meaningful to me during this season. Esther could never have imagined the road that brought her to the palace. Her journey was uncertain, frightening, and full of unexpected turns. Yet God was present in every step, preparing her “for such a time as this.”

Today, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement to begin serving as Lay Associate for Adult Formation at St. John’s. The opportunity to teach, lead, learn, and grow more deeply within this parish is something I do not take lightly. To be entrusted with helping adults explore faith and discipleship is both humbling and joyful.

And perhaps most amazing of all: this new chapter was born from a season I once believed had ended my ministry forever. God is so very good at writing unexpected stories.

Thank you, St. John’s, for welcoming me, encouraging me, healing me, and reminding me that calling does not disappear just because the path changes. Thank you for loving a wandering Methodist orphan well.

I cannot wait to see what God continues to do next — for all of us — for such a time as this.