I know this is a time of sadness for you as you bid farewell to Sally and John. You have had a long and wonderful relationship with these faithful Christians, and they will be sorely missed. But it is time for a new phase in their lives, and I know that you have sent them off with prayers, thanksgiving, laughter, and God’s blessings. There are tears, too, and that is all right. No one says farewell to good friends without tears.
But take heart! This is the beginning of a new and exciting time in the life of your parish. Sometime this year, you will be calling a priest to be your shepherd. My prayer is that you will develop as good a relationship with your new priest as you have had with Sally. Please be aware that the relationship will be different–not better, not worse, just different. That person will bring his or her own gifts to share with you. Your new priest will not fill Sally’s shoes, but will arrive with his or her own shoes, shoes that will take you well into the future.
And now a word of caution: It is a sad truth, that often when a parish goes through a pastoral transition, some people may say “I’ll just sit back and see what happens.” Some others may disappear until a new pastor is called and then maybe come back. Others may disappear and never come back. My prayer is that that will not happen at Harriet Chapel. If your transition is going to go smoothly, and if you are going to continue to be the vital parish that God calls you to be, then each one of you is important.
As I wrote to the church in Rome, “We who are many are one body in Christ, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” And in my letter to the Corinthians, I wrote about how feet and ears and hands and eyes and all the parts of the body are equally important and how the body is not complete without all its parts. It is the same for you. You are the body of Christ. Everyone is equally important in the life of your parish, and every one of you will be needed to make the transition go smoothly.
I send greetings to all the saints of Christ Jesus gathered at Harriet Chapel, and especially to David and the Vestry, and to Douglas and Barbara. Keep strong in the faith, support one another, and continue the good work you do in Thurmont and beyond.
Finally, beloved, remember these words: Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things you have learned and received and heard and seen, and the God of peace will be with you.
See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand: Glory to God whose power, working in you, can do infinitely more than you can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen and Amen!