From the Session

Dear Friends,

 When we worshiped together for the first time on June 10, 1990, we had no idea how long the ministry that began that day was going to last or what it would look like. I learned a long time ago that the best way, and maybe the only way, for a child of God with a headstrong spirit like me to find the path God was setting me on was to take a step in the direction I thought God was calling me to go and see which of two things would happen next. Either there would be no next step apparent, or another door would open and I would be invited to go through. As long as I didn’t break down doors that weren’t opening soon enough but waited patiently, I would find my way where Christ was calling. That first step in June of 1990 was the beginning of a faith walk that would last thirty-three years and seven months and would lead me through a series of open doors that will have brought me to the Benediction at the close of worship on Sunday, October 29, 2023.

 All along that path we have worshiped, traveled, worked, celebrated, cried, learned and taught together. Through all the weddings, funerals, baptisms, and Lord’s Suppers many faith journeys have begun, been nourished and celebrated. They all are a very large thirty-three year long prayer. The grace of this prayer is that there is no ‘Amen,’ because the prayer continues.

 The next step on your path is to new opportunities for ministry that it takes new pastoral leadership to bring. God already knows who that person is and will lead your Pastor Nominating Committee to him or her. Welcome that one with the same open arms you extended to us. I pray the next steps for me will involve some supply preaching, interim ministries, traveling, and writing, all interrupted frequently by periods of fishing.

 We still live in the neighborhood and the presbytery understands that even though ministries come to an end, friendships do not. Thanks and praise be to God for all these things … especially that last part.

Grace and peace,

Mike