What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
~ Pericles
It was announced yesterday (2/7) at Old South Church that I will be the new pastor at the Hampton United Methodist Church in Hampton New Hampshire. While I am very excited by this new appointment by the bishop, I am also sad at having to leave a community that I have been deeply privileged to served for nine years. My family and I have so many good friends in the community. It is in the nature of pastoral ministry that strong bonds are formed. We will have the next more than 4 months (I start at Hampton 7/1) to say "goodbye" and come to accept and even embrace the new future the Spirit has for us. I did not ask to be moved but in our appointive system clergy are sent to new communities to offer their gifts and leadership. I have always been profoundly gifted by each community that I have served and I trust that will continue to be true.
Please pray for my family and me, and the communities of Old South and Hampton during this time of transition and hopeful expectation.
