Pastors Message – January/February, 2019

Dear Friends,
As I write this final letter to you, I am remembering these words from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NRSV:

1. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2. a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3. a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4. a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5. a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6. a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7. a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8. a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

During our little over two years together we have experienced a number of the realities mentioned in this reading. We have had a baptism, a wedding, memorial services, Blue Christmases, Maundy Thursday services, community breakfasts and dinners and rummage sales, a Habitat weekend, Boy Scout Sunday, as well as other scouting events and the scout project resulting in a new crèche. There was the paving of the driveway, and a myriad of other Property Committee projects. There was a Bible study, singing, praying, preaching, fellowship, and friendship. There was also some tearing down of old ideas and planting of new ideas, some disagreements and some resolutions, some remembering and some forgiving. We have collected food and clothing, including hundreds of shoes for those in need. There was the continued thriving of the Food Pantry and the birth of Shared Blessings. We have laughed and cried, eaten many luscious meals and decadent desserts. We have said goodbye to beloved members who have moved on and welcomed others home. We have survived raging storms, ice, snow and endless rain.

Throughout it all, we have bonded and grown while experiencing a great deal of mercy, grace, joy and love! The Lord has blessed us in more ways than we can count. The Lord has certainly been with us and has shown us that what we think is impossible, God makes possible.

I have always believed that a pastor is called to a particular place, for a particular time, with a particular purpose to a particular group of people in a particular community. We may have not accomplished everything that I had hoped for, yet still much was accomplished. It was always my intention and my responsibility to serve you in a particular way which included preparing you for your next pastor. The new pastor has been chosen and so it is my time to exit.

When Jesus prepared to leave his disciples, he found three promises to share:

• First, Jesus promised to make a home in his disciples’ hearts. (John 14:23),
• Second, Jesus promised to fill the disciples with a spirit of courage and comfort. “The Holy Spirit…will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you”. (John 14:26).
• Finally, Jesus promised to sustain his disciples with a special kind of peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you” (John 14:27).

As Mary Lindberg writes in her book The Graceful Exit, “So we’ll open the gifts Jesus gave us-a home in him, the courage to move on, the peace that will get us through many unknowns. And we’ll trust that God is staying with those we love for many more seasons.”

Please remember that you will always be a part of me. I thank you for the patience, kindness, mercy, grace, generosity and love that you have shown me! You are a lovely faith community of wonderful people and I wish you all the best in this new season that you are about to begin. May you continue to grow in faith, hope and love, worshipping the Lord with your whole heart, mind, body and soul, and caring for all God’s people.

I thank God for you.

Blessings,
Pastor Beth