Praising the LORD in God's Country!!
During the last four years, my family and I have felt fortunate to have been a part of a loving, supportive and giving church family. I know that my family and I have grown here in our walk with Christ and I hope that you have as well.
A big part of my journey these last four years has been my seminary experinece. This May 16th, I will graduate from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. At that point I will no longer be a student pastor. I am required to have a full time appointment during my probationary membership. This charge, with all its good points, does not require a full time pastor. As many of you know, we are all bound in a covenant of itineracy. For the pastor, this means I go where I am sent. For the church, this means you will never be without a pastor.
The time has come for me to move on to my next appointment. Bishop John L. Hopkins intends to appoint me to the three point charge of Deer Creek-Henning-Ottertail United Methodist Churches and I have affirmed this decision. My new appointment will begin on July 1, 1998, with June 21, 1998 as my last Sunday in Money Creek-Ridgeway-Witoka.
District Superintendent Rick Ormsby will be working closely with your Pastor/Parish Relations Committee (PPR) and with the cabinet and Bishop Hopkins to select the new pastor who will be appointed to serve your church according to the focus in ministry that has been developed for this congregation. Let us keep them in our prayers.
God Bless you,
Phil Schmidt