a time for change

yesterday in worship at my church it was announced that as of July i would become the pastor at the Catawissa Avenue United Methodist Church in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.  this is an appointment in a new conference, a change that has been part of our plan for a long time.  since both shannon's family and my family live in pennsylvania, we have been thinking about getting back to pennsylvania,  this year, the opportunity finally presented itself in a new way, and we were fortunate enough to be offered an appointment there.  while we are very excited about the homecoming, as well as the new opportunities for ministry in a new setting where i will be the solo pastor, we are also in a time of grieving for the leaving will be doing here in clinton.  we have come to love it here, and will deeply miss the friends we have made here.  it is a strange juxtaposition of mixed emotions. 

so we would appreciate your prayers as we pack.  as we prepare to move.  as we transition.  as we find healthy and graceful ways to say goodbye.  as we try to help someone else get used to the idea of serving here in clinton.  and as we work towards doing ministry in a new state, a new town, a new church with new people. 

we are grateful to God for the many many blessings along this journey of ours.  and we are thankful to each one of you for your love and support of us. 

(ps.  the picture above on the left is a watercolor of the clinton united methodist church by shelley kays.  the one on the right is a picture of the catawissa avenue united methodist church that i got from their website)

(ps 2: if you were hoping to find my sixth lent collage, check back in tomorrow and i will have it for you to see then)