What I Have Heard So
Far
“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” have been much in evidence here in
Fayetteville and environs this past month as leaders in the congregation opened
their homes for “meet and greet” gatherings sponsored by our Staff Parish
Relations Committee. Thanks, SPRC,
and all the hosts (Barbara and Fred Western, Marie and Rick Pickert, Susan and
Curt Anderson, Judy and Norm Buskey, Bette and Russ Wood, and Sarah and Randy
Cooke) for making space and yummy, healthy snacks available to those who came
out to meet me. Transitioning to a
new pastor is a tender time in a congregation.
In our denomination, it may be especially challenging because we don’t
have a tradition (so far) of utilizing interim pastors as a matter of course
(although I know this congregation has been exceedingly well served by interims
in times past.) The “normal” UM
transition consists of saying “goodbye” to one pastor one week at a summer
farewell service and saying “hello” to the new pastor the very next Sunday.
With all we now know about the necessary work of grief after loss, this
is often a tall order. Yet I give
thanks to our evergracious God for the warm welcome I have received even in the
midst of your grief at having to say goodbye to Nancy and Gerry Rehkugler, and
for your patience as we get accustomed to each other’s styles.
What I’ve done so far above all in my first two months in
your midst is listen, listen, listen. I
enjoy listening, and have been told I’m good at it; I hope this is or will be
your experience. As I’ve listened
at these “meet and greet” gatherings, I’ve been touched by the love you
have for each other, and the appreciation the generations have for the
contributions each has made. FUMC is
an intergenerational family, and a healthy one.
For that we need to give thanks daily.
I have been impressed, too, in my short time here, at the number of
talented leaders with which this congregation is blessed.
We have a strong core of committed laity and staff who get up every day
ready to give their best to the Master. Your
love for God in Christ Jesus and for each other will continue to be a constant
inspiration to me as we go forward in this new relationship.
Even as I have witnessed and admired the healthy
partnerships across generational lines that make life interesting and fun here
at FUMC, there was an ongoing refrain at the gatherings we’ve had about
ministry with younger families.
The feedback that’s come back is that our church is an
intergenerational community, but tipping in the direction of the older set.
This is a concern that’s shared not only by our church but, I would
venture, by nearly every congregation in our conference, and even across the
Northeast. But to say it’s widely
shared isn’t to say it’s easily solved.
What a blessing that these “meet and greet” conversations will be
followed so quickly by our Visioning Sessions this month!
I invite all of you to participate in as many of these as you possibly
can. I know it’s a busy time of
year for many of you, but this is a good and fruitful process as I’ve
experienced it at other churches in the past, and besides, it’s fun!
See the article in this issue from Vision Team chair
Jeannine Parks for more information.
Yours listening to the dreams of God,
Marti Swords-Horrell, Pastor
Office Hours for Rev. Swords-Horrell
Monday, Tuesday and Friday
9:30 to 12:30
Wednesday is Marti’s day off.
Marti is participating in a study at the Spiritual Renewal Center on Tuesday afternoons.
Notes of Interest
