Last Thoughts from Wayne’s World

“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”  Acts 8:39           (full story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch is 8:26-40)

As I write this the days of summer are quickly marching on. July will give way to August and my last Sunday with you. The day will come that what the eunuch experienced on the road after his baptism will happen to us. It will seem that I was snatched away just as Philip was snatched away by the Spirit.

We will celebrate one Sunday, then the next I will no longer be in Wisconsin, and someone new will eventually fill the pulpit. For most it may seem that this should be a time of sorrow and grief, and there will be some of that. We will shed tears as we must say, “so long for now”. 

However, it is my hope that the celebration we experience on August 15th will carry us through into the future. That like the Ethiopian Eunuch we can go on our way rejoicing; rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit that called me to McFarland not just once but twice;  rejoicing that our ministry together has been filled with surprises and the Spirit’s moving; rejoicing that God continues to bless us as we continue to list and respond to God’s still speaking voice in our lives.

Yes, there will be a time of grief for us. For we unlike the Philip and the Eunuch have spent 6 years getting to know each other. It has been a joy being your pastor, and I find being a pastor a very humbling experience In these 6 years you have invited me into your lives. You have shared your stories, your joys and sorrows with me.  You have opened yourselves to my pastoral presence and leadership and I am grateful.  I know that I won’t get through my last couple of weeks with out shedding a tear, but I also know that as I leave I will go forth rejoicing because I have known each and everyone of you. You have blessed my life, and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. What I have learned from you I will carry with me throughout the rest of ministry. Your influence on my life has been great. Thank you.

I hope that as I move forward in my ministry that you too recognize your grief in my leaving, but also allow God to turn your weeping into joy as we rejoice together in the ministry that we have shared, and the friendships we will continue to hold dear.

Thank you for who you have been to me, for what you have done, and for what you will continue to do in God’s name. You are a blessing to me and to the McFarland community. I will miss you all.

Let us rejoice always in God for all that God has done and will do in our lives!     

Pastor Wayne