Dear friends,
This ancient priestly blessing from the Hebrew Bible is so familiar, so often used as a benediction to our worship services and a way of going forth after a meaningful time of praise and prayer together on a Sunday morning. It captures our greatest hopes for one another as we come to a time of parting. By now, I imagine that most everyone has learned of my plans for retirement this coming September. It’s bittersweet news for all of us, as we learn that a goodbye lies on the road ahead of us, and that’s hard.
The past five years have been among the most meaningful of my life as a pastor. My call to ministry at Edward Church has offered unique opportunities to adapt programs for children and families to meet the challenges of our times, to experiment with new forms of worship and engagement as a congregation, to create ever more meaningful community, and to deepen my understanding of what it truly means to be “extravagantly welcoming.” Most of all, I have come to know all of you, and we have had a chance to walk together for a while!
It’s my hope that we can spend the next four months preparing for my leave-taking by being together and celebrating all the wonderful ways we’ve been in mutual ministry. Christian Explorers will be getting dirt under their fingernails by planting this year’s herb boxes. Tents will go up in front of Jonathan House and the sanctuary so we can revel in the beauty of God’s creations when we’re together up on the Edwards campus. A date has already been set for our Annual Church Picnic (mark your calendar for Sunday, August 4!) There is time to savor our friendships, to work together in service to others, to share with and care for one another.
Someone once said, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” That’s how I feel, and I hope I have a chance to spend precious time with each of you over the next four months to celebrate and bless each other as we prepare to say goodbye. In the meantime,
May God bless you and keep you,
May God’s face to shine upon you and be gracious to you,
May God’s countenance be upon you and give you peace.
Karen Nell