Dear Edwards Church Community,
Approaching the end of our time together stirs a range of feelings, for me mostly gratitude and some sadness at leave taking. I am happy to be retiring and look forward to new ways of using my time enjoying family, travel and volunteer work. I will miss the privilege of knowing so many people in the different ways we connected: Sunday worship, serving together on a team or committee, in pastoral care or casual settings.
In any long-term relationship – and these days serving as a settled pastor for over a decade is long-term – when we get to see the end coming, it’s natural to think about how it went and wonder how it will go with your interim minister and next settled pastor. Knowing the people of this congregation as I do, appreciating your talents and wisdom and the church’s resources, I am very confident that you will find wonderful pastors, who will help you to refine your sense of shared vision and how to pursue it.
Looking back over the last 11 years, I see things I am proud of and things I wish I had done better or differently. It’s a mixture of 20/20 hindsight and “coulda, shoulda, woulda” so I do not stew on it. Nothing major or recent is in that category, because I feel like I listened well to the congregation and the Spirit. Whenever I disappointed someone even when trying my best, I will trust them to let it go.
To support churches and pastors in having a way to celebrate and release each other, the United Church of Christ provides a liturgy, which we will say together in a Sunday service shortly before or on my final Sunday. That liturgy (which we said last year with Deb Moore) provides an opportunity for us as pastor and congregation to consider all the ways we are grateful for each other, as well as the needs we might have to forgive each other and release each other to pursue our diverging paths.
We cannot know how long it will take for ECM to engage an interim. It could happen quickly, in which case I will leave in the early fall. And it may take longer. Meanwhile, know that I will be silently offering this blessing for you now and in the days to come.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and
until we meet again, may God hold you
in the palm of God’s hand.
In faith, with hope, for love,
Michael
To read the full Spire click here.