Dear MCCGSL Family,
After seven and a half years of ministry with you, I am so grateful for your loving support of my upcoming Time of Renewal. Just one week from now I will begin a 90-day time of restoration, study, contemplation, and rejuvenation. While this is a tremendous blessing to me, it is also an investment in and blessing for our shared future. No leader is capable of constantly giving of themselves without dedicated time for personal healing and renewal. Even Jesus regularly withdrew from ministry to be in prayer and solitude! Jesus's example proves that this intentional Time of Renewal will bear fruits in all our congregation's ministries for years to come.
This Sunday, we will have a formal ritual to bless this season in our ministry and life together, but I ask that you begin even now to hold me in your prayers and continue to do so until we are back together again on the first Sunday of August. Just as you will be praying for me, I will be praying for you. This Time of Renewal is also an opportunity for each of you to "try on" new things, to volunteer to help in new ways, and to participate in a critical time of reinvention for our church as we reemerge from Covid.
While I am away, you will resume in-person worship. Pastor Lauren, Jerry Smith, and our Board of Directors are well underway in planning for that return, and my only regret is that I will miss that momentous day. Even still, it is a good reminder that the church is more than any one person, even the Senior Pastor. Even more importantly, I know that I am leaving you in the care of very capable hands, hearts, and minds. I will rest easy knowing that under the guidance of our amazing Staff and Board of Directors, all will be well.
I hope you will be able to join us this Sunday for our virtual parting, and I want you to know that I love you very much and feel exceedingly grateful for the honor of continuing in my call to serve as your Senior Pastor.
May this Time of Renewal be a blessing for all of us,
With Love, Joy and Gratitude,
Pastor Wes