From the Pastor

Dear church:

We still have several Sundays together, but this may be my last newsletter as your pastor. I’m not much for sentimental farewells, but I do love a good list, so in honor of our ten years together, here are ten things you’ve done that have made our decade together such a joy.

 

1. You laughed a lot. In worship, in meetings, over meals. You enjoy being together, which makes this church so much fun to be a part of.

 

2. You made decisions based on faith, not fear. Sometimes money was tight. Sometimes people got upset. But not once did I watch you back away from the direction you knew God was calling us.

 

3. You’re committed to ministry with children and youth. We’ve had to reimagine what that looks like, but you’ve always made it a priority to teach and care for our kids.

 

4. You’re committed to outreach. You are always looking outward from these walls to see how you can serve our community. And even when we were financially stretched, you’ve kept your commitment to send at least 10% of our income back out.

 

5. You take care of each other. You know that it’s not just the pastor’s job to check in on people. You go to the hospital and deliver meals. You pray for each other. You love each other well.

 

6.. You’ve stayed connected to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). You know that the church is stronger when we connect to other churches, and you’ve supported the Disciples Mission Fund, sent kids to camp, and paid attention to what’s happening in the denomination. (Relatedly: maybe I’ll get to see you at this summer’s General Assembly?)

 

7. You made space for new leaders to learn. You welcomed interns and loved them into being capable, faithful ministers who will serve the church well.

 

8. You said, “Sure, we’ll try that.” Whether it was planting a garden, rearranging furniture, or changing up the order of worship, you’ve always been game to try something new.

 

9. You said, “You can just be a mom today.” You took care of the Easter egg hunt so I could watch my kids find eggs. You locked up the building so I could get home in time for bedtime. You made sure I took my day off. (I presume, should your next minister be a father, that you’ll encourage him to “just be a dad” sometimes as well.)

 

10. You said yes to leadership. Almost every year, I’ve fretted about who would fill one major leadership position or another. And every year, just the right person stepped up and said yes. That’s never been more true than this year. I meant what I said at the leadership installation in worship last week: you’re in good hands, church.

 

I can’t imagine a better place to have spent the past ten years. I’m grateful for you, and for our time together. Thank you.

     Lee