Dear Friends,

I hope this greeting finds you and yours well and safe. When we all received word from Bishop Trimble way back in February that I would be coming to serve as pastor at Union Chapel UMC, none of us would have guessed that we would be making this transition during a global health crisis. But not even a pandemic can dampen my enthusiasm for coming to be among you and joining you in mission and ministry. You have been in my prayers since I first learned of my appointment to Union Chapel. I am so excited to join you on July 1!

My husband Mike and myself are getting acquainted with Union Chapel via your website and social media, as well as being in touch with the staff and Unified Council members. Pastor Andy and I have also spent time together to aid my entry. I can already see that you all have a tremendous heart for Jesus, the community, and each other, and are passionate about being Christ’s love to and for others. We look forward to getting to know each of you in the coming weeks and months.

By way of our own introduction, Mike and I live in Plainfield, Indiana. Mike holds a national projects management job with AmeriGas Propane. He enjoys bicycling and plays the bass and drums. We have two adult sons, both live in Broad Ripple. I am looking forward to being closer to them on a daily basis and seeing them for an occasional lunch together. Aaron, our oldest, works in technology. He has a husky named Jude. Luke is in sales and management. He and his girlfriend Chiara have two Lhasa Apso rescues, Marls and Beatrice.

Though our face-to-face interactions will still be limited when I arrive in July, we’ll be looking for ways for us to get to know you. Stay tuned!

You may anticipate that our worship together in July will continue as it has been throughout this time of COVID-19 restrictions (with the exception of your June tent worship experiences). You’ll find worship posted on Union Chapel’s YouTube Channel (search YouTube for Union Chapel Indy) each week, as well as linked to the church’s Facebook page, facebook.com/UnionChapelIndy. And please note, on Sunday, July 5, we will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. If you would like to participate, please have bread, crackers or any grain product and juice or water available with you during worship that morning.

Additionally, on the first Sunday of July, Mike and I would love to greet you on the Union Chapel property – with all of the appropriate safety measures, of course! From 11 a.m. – noon on Sunday, July 5, Mike and I will be in the parking lot of Union Chapel, and we invite you to drive through the parking lot for a brief greeting and to receive a small gift that we have for you. (Please enter from the road east of the church, Haverstick Rd., onto the drive on the north side of the church.) We’ll wear masks and gloves and keep a safe distance. If this would be a
comfortable way for you to meet us, we would love to see you there! And if not, we will look forward to meeting

you another time very soon. I will be working with staff and the Unified Council to plan additional ways to connect with each of you and get to know all of you better. I am so excited for all that God has planned for Union Chapel in the coming years, and Mike and I are honored to join you in the adventure that awaits us. I continue in prayer for each of you and for the church. Please let me
know if there is any way I can be helpful to you or if there are specific things for which I can join you in prayer.

Stay safe and be well.
Until we are together,

Pastor Elizabeth Gilbert