“And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about
proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again.”
Acts of the Apostles 20:25
Beloved,
I’ve been so touched by your kind words and gestures since I announced my retirement several months ago. I’m profoundly grateful to each and every one of you for your friendship, and I’m profoundly sad to be leaving. I’ve come to deeply love Edwards Church, each of you, and the time we’ve journeyed together in faith. Such is the paradoxical nature of God’s call in our lives, I’ve come to believe.
My last service as Associate Pastor of Faith Formation and Outreach of Edwards Church will be on Sunday, September 15. It will be a time to be intentional about saying goodbye to each other, so I hope you’ll plan to attend. A Sacred Service of Sending Forth enables us all to move on from this relationship in a healthy way so that each of us is ready for what’s next, whatever the future holds.
In the scripture text above, the author of the Acts of the Apostles shares an account of Paul’s last words to the Ephesians before his ministry among them ends. Paul says to the Ephesian elders, “And now I know none of you…will ever see my face again.” Paul is telling those in his care that his time as their leader is now over, that he’s no longer able to care for them in the same way as during his ministry among them, and they must ready their hearts for new leadership.
The loss of a pastoral leader in Paul’s day – as today – can be difficult and evoke a range of emotions. Yet, as I’ve often said at other times of parting, “that’s the way it should be. The more we love someone – the more of ourselves we give to them – the harder it is to say goodbye.” But say goodbye we must, if only to allow us to say hello and enter our next relationships fully and authentically.
Unlike Paul, our paths may cross again at some point in the future! But when that happens, I will no longer be your associate pastor. The biblical example set by Paul is clear – and pastoral ethics require – that our pastoral relationship must cease. I’ll no longer be able to be available to you in that way to offer pastoral care, perform sacraments or officiate at life-transition events. Yet even so, please know that my love and affection for you remains steadfast.
I’m truly thankful for the ministry we have shared. Across the generations, we’ve worked together to faithfully reach out to help others both near and far. We’ve nurtured one another in Christian fellowship and grown together, learning more deeply about discipleship and being there for each other through so many of life-changing moments — births, illnesses, deaths, countless life transitions, celebrations and challenges, and the simple joys of discipleship from washing dishes after congregational gatherings to joining hands and hearts in serving others and standing for justice. Together, we have weathered more than a few storms, of both nature and humankind’s making.
And now, my friends, the Way is before us. Let us go, each of us
Knowing that God will carry us through,
sharing that Good News with everyone we meet, and
shaped always by love of God, the example of Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit.
Go now in peace,
Karen Nell