June 2010 Pastor’s Message:
“Having Been Mutually Encouraged By Each Other’s Faith.”
In the first chapter of his Letter to the Romans, Paul makes a statement that has, in light of the recent announcement of my eminent transfer, taken on new meaning for me.
Paul, prior to his long hoped-for visit with the church in Rome, paves the way for his visit by writing to them in verses 8-12:
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. 9For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, 10asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. 11For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
(NRSV)
The thing that I’ve heard anew doesn’t have to do with Paul’s desire to travel to be with the Romans, nor does it have to do, exactly, with his hopes and his expectations of what might transpire in Rome. The thing that calls to me, today, hears the hope that Paul expresses – his longing to see the Romans to: “...share ... some spiritual gift to strengthen ... 12or ... so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith ..” and recognizes that this is what has happened in the three years that Joyce and I have spent with you at Southern Heights.
I think this is exactly what has happened; that Joyce and I have been able to share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you; and that you, likewise, have shared of your faith, have shared of God’s gifts to you, so that we might be encouraged as well.
It’s said that we never forget our first love. Probably those in the know would say, likewise, that Pastors never forget the first church to which they’re appointed. That will certainly be the case for us. Joyce and I have felt comfortable at Southern Heights from day- one, and our love and respect for you have grown over the course of our stay. Your faith and your friendship have set the bar high for the churches we will serve as we continue in our ministry career.
While we are truly sorry to be leaving, Joyce and I both know that the United Methodist church is an apostolic church (apostle meaning “one who is sent”) and that its Pastors are sent where they are needed, when they are needed. One of my mentors says that United Methodist Pastors aren’t just sent to where they’re needed, but to where they’re needed most. His words help me to see the situation in a different light. By recognizing that the Bishop and his Cabinet have discerned a need for our services elsewhere, it is clear to us that faithfulness dictates that ours, now, is to go to the place where we have been sent.
As we enter into our final few weeks in Leavenworth, our hope is to be able to personally say “thanks” and “goodbye” to each of you. However, if our paths don’t cross before the moving vans come, know that we have been blessed by our time with you. We take our leave trusting that your relationships with God and with one another will assure a bountiful harvest at Southern Heights, both: in the near future and for many generations to come.
