Saturday, October 15, 2016

Pastor's Message

Fall is my favorite time of year — the cool crisp weather, the beautiful leaves, and apples and pumpkins. This fall also marks a passage in the life of this church: It is one year since Rev Bev's retirement, and we are well on our way to calling a new pastor for this church. The Pastor Nominating Committee was elected by the congregation in August, and by the time you receive our newsletter, will already be commissioned for their work in worship, and will have begun meeting. This work is appropriately seen as ministry, not (just) serving on a committee.

"This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean,
who carves a path through pounding waves, the God who summons horses and chariots
and armies—they lie down and then can't get up; they're snuffed out like so many candles:
"Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it?"

(Isaiah 43:16-19 - The Message Bible)

As we begin the journey to find new pastoral leadership, the next few months will be exciting, tedious, joyful, spiritually fulfilling, frustrating, inspiring, lengthy, and purposeful. The process is one of discernment and will challenge us as a congregation to listen closely for the will of God for its mission and ministry in this new stage of the congregation's life.

This is a new step of faith that will bring our congregation together around the common goal of identifying who God is calling to serve your congregation. Please pray for the Pastoral Nominating Committee, and whoever God is calling to serve as your next pastor.

Blessings!  Pastor Nancy