Dear St. John’s Parish,

It is with great sadness and joy that our time together has come to an end. My last Sunday at St John’s was yesterday, May 28. I am sad because, as God would have it sometimes, my plans are not his plans. While I was prepared to serve you for a longer period of time, I was reminded of a call I heard long ago. So now, as always, I trust that God has prepared me for something beyond what I can see.

 

I am also joyful. Joyful because I know that we are all stepping into something new. If one thing is true about church life, it is that we must always remain in motion, and try to keep up with the Teacher. I have a plaque in my office with this, from the book of Jeremiah on it – “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future, and a hope.”
This is not the first community that I’ve loved and left. But it is once again an act of faith and wonder that I say to my husband, “here we go!”

I was reading though some old cards and letters of ordinations and church families past. A goodbye note from a parishioner at my field parish said, “we’ll miss you but oh so happy we could give you wings.”
I want to thank you for being my church family for the past year, for loving me and allowing me to love you back. May you be blessed and be a blessing to others.

In His Love,

Janet