From our outgoing/incoming pastors,

Rev. Marilyn Wolfe & Rev. Craig French

Farewell & Keep in Touch

Dear Friends,

This will be the last pastor’s letter I write to you. There will be time during the farewell celebrations on June 28 and 29 to express my deep love and gratitude to you, but I want to take this time to tell you how wonderful it has been to be your pastor for the last 8 years and to have known you during the last 18 years. You are a wise and generous people, and I will keep you with me wherever I go.

Many of you have asked, “Will you come to worship after you leave?” The most natural thing in the world would be to come to worship and be a part of the congregation. However, it is essential that you bond with Craig French and more deeply with Beth DuBois. And I need time to disconnect from my role as pastor. So, my plan is to spend time with the congregations of A.C.T.S.—not to preach or teach or lead but to be—to spend time listening to the spirit of the congregation and to visit with the leaders—to answer together the question, “How is it with your soul?”

I was at Ed Smith Elementary School this week. Seeing the kids and the teachers in the hall reminded me of the time I was in college and went back to Holly Avenue School to see Mrs. Thompson, my second grade teacher. I said, “I know you won’t remember me, but . . . .” Her eyes twinkled, and she said, “I remember you. You’re Marilyn Nichols, and you used to sit right there (pointing to the desk in the third row). I remember you loved singing and baseball, and you always worked so hard.” She wanted to know everything about me, and after I’d told her, she said, “My, how you’ve grown.” Obviously, I’d grown physically, but she meant I’d grown emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. It felt wonderful—to be remembered—and to be known.

I won’t be located in a new congregation, so it won’t be possible for you to stop by to say hello. But I want to keep in touch—to “see how you’ve grown.” So, I would welcome calls and e-mails—to let me know what is happening in your life—What are you learning? How are you changing? What is important to you? You have our home phone number, and you are welcome to send e-mails to thewolfegang@yahoo.com. Though the ways we connect will be different, the “ties that bind our hearts in Christian love” will remain strong. I will keep you always in my heart—and in my prayers.

Joy and peace,

Marilyn

“Hello!” from Rev. French

What an exciting time this is. And how excited I am to become your pastor. I can’t wait to get started. Officially, I’ve been looking forward to this since early January, when the Bishop and Cabinet decided we were a match and made the appointment. Unofficially, I’ve been imagining and dreaming about this—being back in the city and in a city church—for a lot longer. It’s where my heart is and where I’ve done my best ministry. In the words of Marv Levy (coach of the Buffalo Bills for much of the time I lived and pastored in the city of Buffalo): “Where else would you rather be than right here right now?” And in the words of the Apostle Paul: “I long to see you . . . that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith.” (Romans 1:11-12)

Earlier this month I received the special photo directory you prepared for me with your names and pictures. I’ve gone through it several times, using it as part of my daily prayer. Is it possible to fall in love with people you’ve never met? Odd as it may sound, my heart swells with joy as I look at your faces and pray for you. I can’t wait to meet you in person.

I’ve heard a lot about you and your rich history as a congregation. I’ve met with your staff and some of your leaders. All of it has increased my level of excitement and anticipation, my sense of the timeliness of this move, my confidence in you, and my hope that we will be able to accomplish great things for God.

But I have so much more to learn. That is why a series of informal “meet and greet” get-togethers have been scheduled over the summer. I look forward to them and hope you’ll plan to attend. Along with getting introduced to each other, these meetings are a great way for me to learn how things work at University Church (and who makes them work) and how God has been at work in your life. They’re also a good place for me to talk about my hopes and dreams, my passions, what it means to be a church, the meaning of Christian discipleship, the role of the pastor.

Additionally, I also plan to spend much of the summer getting out and meeting with many of you personally, to find out how we can best support, encourage, pray for and bring out the best in each other in life and ministry. If you’re going to be out of town for part of the summer, please call the church office and suggest a time for us to meet. (I’d like to do this every year or so, as a way of promoting spiritual and ministry growth.)

Finally, I’ll also use July and August to meet the neighbors around University Church—the people who live and work nearby, local businesses and agencies, community and civic leaders, other churches and religious groups, public servants (schools, police, fire fighters). I invite you to come along with me on many of these outings, starting with after-church walks in the neighborhood.

It’s an exciting time. There’s so much to look forward to. I can’t wait to get started.

Craig