Dear Friends,
This is my last contribution to the Communicator as your Interim Pastor. I’ll keep it brief. I came to Pine Valley just about two years ago to the day. We were strangers then—seems hard to believe—and now we are friends, good friends. Sally and I cherish the time we have been together. We cannot forget the amazing leadership so many members give in worship, the outstanding music Judy, Jeff and the choir bring each week, the thoughtful prayers and the moving meditations. I think this is the first time in my ministry that I have had not one but two members of the congregation tell me that they wanted to preach on Sunday morning! What a wonderful testimony to the vitality of the Spirit among us. We have branched out into new ministries. People walked on the information picket line, stood in the parking lot of Wal-Mart to stand up for the rights of workers, traveled to Georgia to call for closing the School of the Americas, walked in the Gay Pride Parade, cleaned up along the river, visited the homeless under a bridge, and been engaged in countless other ministries too numerous to mention here. And we never lost sight of the pastoral ministry of care for one another, which has so enriched our lives personally following Sally’s operation. What a joy and privilege to be part of this community!
Sally and I share your anticipation as you look forward to welcoming Carolyn and Ken next week. It is fitting that as she begins her ministry with you that we should step away. So for the next couple of months we are going to be elsewhere on Sunday morning. We will miss you even as we remain deeply thankful for your friendship—which we hope will continue and deepen in the coming years.
Peace, David