A Bittersweet Announcement: The Rev. Cheryl Brainard
Dear All,
I write to share with you a significant change that is taking place within our St. James Parish family. After a deep and meaningful tenure as our Associate Rector, the Reverend Cheryl Brainard has elected to step away from her role as a member of our clergy team. She and her husband Don have prayerfully decided to move to Athens, Georgia, where they will be in close proximity to their family (and grandchildren). While this news brings an immediate sense of loss and grief for us, it is at the same time wonderful for the Brainards to lean into such a beautiful family-minded decision.
Cheryl has faithfully served in ministry here at St. James since 2018. We had the honor of hosting her ordination to the priesthood in June of 2019. Without a doubt, Cheryl has served honorably and diligently through tremendous (and at times tumultuous) seasons of change within our parish - all the while remaining a steadfast model of pastoral care and presence. Over these six years, many of you have shared your own ministries with Cheryl in different and successful parish endeavors and outreach programs. Indeed, St. James has been strengthened by her work, and even now we are enormously grateful for her legacy.
There are still some important details to be considered before exact timelines can be established. That being said, we will generally expect to bid our farewells to Cheryl and Don in early June. Importantly, there will be ample opportunities to honor and celebrate the Brainards. I promise those opportunities and details will be shared in the near future. For now, I invite you to join me in adding Cheryl and Don to your prayers, as they enter into a busy and at times emotional season of transition.
As Rector, please know that I am open to your thoughts, reflections, and comments. As always, I encourage you to reach out to me directly if you would like to discuss this announcement.
Faithfully,
Phillip+