Tuesday I was alone in the Trinity office working on Sunday’s lectionary when I noticed out the window two cars pulling up and several people walking towards the front door. This is not a common occurrence on a Tuesday morning, I thought aloud. As I greeted the strangers, they each introduced themselves and came in explaining that every week they read the newsletter and knew that we would be open from 10-2. They had come to reminisce.
They explained they were in New Hampshire for only three days from London England. The matriarch of the group turned to me and stated that her grandfather, the Rev. Lansdowne, helped commission the Trinity window behind the altar of the church. I quickly realized that this was a family that felt that they had come home. The matriarch shared with me that they have an ancestor in our memorial garden, and that the chalice and tabernacle we use every Sunday was a gift from her family in memory of the Rev. Burdette Lansdowne.
I know often small churches are discouraged by the number of parishioners attending each Sunday and wonder what effect we are having in our community. It is not the huge number of members but the impact of each heart we have changed for the love of God that matters. The younger three of the seven people in the group had been baptized here as infants. I watched as they looked around in amazement at the church where they had been baptized, I reminded them that their names were in our books as a smile of belonging spread over their faces.
I took a moment to appreciate the importance of our ongoing stewardship of this sacred place. When we remember all the hearts and souls that have passed through Trinity, we can never know the impact that we have on the world. We can be assured that God knows and blesses our efforts. These small blessings help us as we continue our walk with the Spirit of truth.
In loving service,
The Reverend Amanda Sampey
Pastor, Trinity Episcopal Church in Meredith, NH