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July Update

 Grieving but grateful... 

Robert Michael Steinbach Sr. 9/7/1946 - 7/28/2025
This is has been my response to people as they've asked me how I'm doing. 

On July 28th my Dad's spirit left his failing body into the presence of the Trinity. My heart is heavy because of the finality of death. I can no longer see him or talk to him. Now I wait to go to him. 

But I'm also grateful for his life. He had an amazing testimony which I shared about briefly at his memorial service. He was a gift to all who knew him. He was my Dad and I loved him dearly. 

Needless to say July was a blur. I made two trips back to Maryland. The first was to see him and support my mom in his final days. The second was a week long trip after he passed for his memorial and committal service. I'm settling back into work and processing my grief as well as looking forward to the end of summer and some fall planning.

Updates:

  • While I was gone our church stepped up and handled the Sunday service. I'm grateful for our team.
  • We had a great group of folks discussing, "Word and Sacrament," which is a book on church planting within the Anglican tradition. It was encouraging to hear how excited people are to be a part of our church and hopeful for future growth.
  • I had a wonderful meeting with a young woman who is excited to be a part of Shalom and preparing to join our fall catechism class. 
  • We've seen new visitors and a few who have returned. This is a big praise! One was clearly moved emotionaly by the preaching of the gospel. 
  • We had a small work team make an improvement to our worship space by tearing out an old sound booth and tightening up our sound system. 
  • I had the chance to visit and pray with one of our core members who is holding morning prayer at his job. He's been using this as an outreach to his employees. 
  • We had a visitor give us a generous financial gift. I praise God for his continued provisions! 
Prayer:
  • Please pray for our family in our grief especially my mom Laura, twin sister Liz, and my nephews Lincoln and Benny.
  • Please pray for our fall Catechism class. Pray for our new folks to sign up!
  • Pray for some new initiatives we hope to begin this fall to build community and continue reaching new folks. 
  • We've seen a few new givers! 
Thanks again!

Shalom,

Father Rob and Beth 

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