From The Interim Pastor:
The Unexpected Happens
|
|
From The Interim Pastor: The Unexpected Happens |
|
As I conclude my time as your Interim Lead Pastor my heart is filled with gratitude. Thank you for the opportunity to be your pastor. These last three years have been among the richest and most fulfilling years of my ministry. When I felt led to leave New Jersey and return to Bellingham nearly five years ago I believed that my time in the ministry had come to an end, yet somehow within the providence of God the unexpected happened - we were brought together. I hope it has been as much of a blessing to the congregation as it has been to me personally. I deeply appreciate the support and encouragement you have given me. This has been a wonderful environment in which to do ministry. You have welcomed my pastoral care, responded to my preaching, and accepted my leadership. What more could a pastor ask? You have my heartfelt thanks. My thanks also go to the moderators I have worked with during this time: Cheryll Blair, Max Legg, Etta Kirk, Keith Craswell and Sharon Camblin. They, along with the members of Church Council, have stepped forward and provided strong lay leadership for the congregation. Their wisdom, along with the guidance of the Spirit, has contributed enormously to the stability and fruitfulness of the congregation during this in-between time. They have been open in receiving feedback from the congregation and have continued to promote more transparency in the decision-making process. My thanks also go to all of you who have served on boards and committees. I admire all of you for the time and faith commitment you have made, as well as the energy, creativity, and insight that you have shared. What a blessing you have been to the congregation! No expression of gratitude would be complete without acknowledging our wonderful staff. What a treat as a minister to work with such a talented group of people! They will be a great asset in the transition as Tom and Jane come on board as your next pastors. As I have mentioned previously, my immediate plan is to remain in Bellingham and to look for employment outside of a church context where I can still put my best gifts and skills to good use. It is appropriate that Tom be given the opportunity to be accepted as your next pastor. To facilitate that I will keep my distance from the church for a period of time, but I do look forward to seeing many of you in the community! Finally, remember - you are a talented, faithful, and resilient congregation. God has great plans for you. Embrace it all whole-heartedly! I’ll be watching from the sidelines! Blessings! |