Farewell, for now

For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Dear friends,

The past couple of months have been a whirlwind. Immediately after I spent a week in Michigan defending and revising my Doctor of Ministry project, I spent a weekend in Wisconsin candidating for the co-pastor position at First Congregational UCC in Appleton. I think most of you who read these letters know this. I haven’t written in part because of the whirlwind, and in part because I haven’t known exactly what to do about At Your Leisure as my ministry context changes. I created it specifically to write pastoral letters to the people of The First Congregational Church of Western Springs, but the readership quickly expanded beyond church members. I think I will let it lay fallow for a spell, and return if/when the time seems right. It’s been a quiet but meaningful ministry and I have been so grateful for the readers who have received my words with kindness and grace. 

For now, I’ll leave you with the words I shared at the Words and Music event, which included the Liturgy of Farewell from the Book of Worship formally ending my authorized ministry at First Congo. (When, in the liturgy, Meredith asked me, “Do you, Katherine, release this congregation from turning to you and depending on you?” It took me a minute and it was hard to say, “I do, with the help of God.” 

I love this church and I love this people. But hopefully most of you who read these letters know this, too. 

Friends, I had a vision for this Words & Music. I wanted to sing Gathering of Spirits, not only because it fulfills my long-standing dream of joining the All In Band, but also because I sang it on my last Sunday as the pastor of South Bay Christian Church. I do love tradition. I wanted to sing Go Tell It On the Mountain, even though it is Lent, because one of my favorite traditions at First Congo is breaking into that song after the blessing at the early Christmas Eve services. It was always a poignant moment for me - not only was I bursting with joy about how wonderful the Christmas pageant was, I was also filled with relief that I was a whole year away from having to do it again.  A Dazzling Bouquet always reminds me of our amazing church picnics. 

Now it makes me laugh because a couple of years ago I received a text from Devon while she was at band practice. “Dude who likes this dazzling bouquet song and why are they making us sing it??” It’s me - hi - I’m the problem, it’s me. And I got to make us sing it again!

Soon, the band will perform the song Kind and Generous, with its wonderful chorus of thank you’s. The lyrics are deeply true: you’ve been so kind and generous. So kind, and so generous. And I am deeply indebted to this congregation for all of the gifts you have given to me. You found a way for my family to live within walking distance of church. You gave me patience as I grew as a preacher. You threw me a fabulous party when I published a book. You didn’t bat an eye when I unexpectedly added “yoga teacher” to my job description. 

You granted me time for rest and renewal through my sabbaticals. You’ve given me all sorts of delightful material gifts over the years, from homemade meals to handmade treasures. One of you even left a hand-me-down sweater at my door after I raved about how beautiful it was, but because you did not leave a note I still can’t remember for the life of me who it was - this is my final plea: show yourself, benefactor of the best sweater of all time! You gave me permission to be myself in a vocation that many of my clergy friends have found restrictive and limiting. You gave me grace for my missteps and failures. You let me pray with and for you, and you prayed for my family when we experienced seasons of grief and pain. You’ve sent me notes of encouragement and care. 

You also gave me a community in our remarkable church staff, and a trustworthy mentor and friend in our Senior Pastor, Rich Kirchherr. 

And in kindness and generosity you presented us with a going away gift that will not only allow us to establish our home in Appleton, but will also empower us to build our kids’ college funds. So kind, and so generous. 

My gift to this congregation is a simple one, but I hope it will be meaningful. I noticed last year that there was no star on the sanctuary Christmas Tree, and I found one that will work to restore that bright tradition. I hope it will be a reminder that the light of Christ shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. 

I want to share some of my favorite words of scripture with you, from the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 

It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.”

Those words resonate deeply - even though Paul wrote them from prison, and we’re just moving to Wisconsin. I will continue to thank God every time I remember you. I will continue to hold you in my heart and hope that you will hold me in yours. I will continue to pray that this community of faith overflows more and more with the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it is hard.

We’d be here all day and all night if we included references to all the traditions I love and blessings I’ve received serving as one of your pastors. There aren’t enough words and there isn’t enough music in the world to convey my gratitude for each and every one of you, and the journey we have shared. We have laughed and cried. We have worshiped and worked. We have certainly experienced the tie that binds hearts in Christian love, and I know that is not a tie that can be broken.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Thanks for reading.

Peace,

Katherine