the Pastor’s Note

Moving Thoughts...

In a way, it seems like such a short time ago that our moving truck pulled into the parsonage driveway in West Yarmouth, and another chapter in our family’s continuing faith journey began anew here on Cape Cod.

Yet, it’s been nearly a year – and a lot has happened in those months. We’ve been warmly welcomed by congregation members, shared both joys and sorrows, had all sorts of conversations on religion, sports, politics, you name it (all those things we’re "never" supposed to talk about). And, in the process, during this uncertain, undetermined time of interim ministry, touched on a number of concerns about the Christian church, the future of ministry, the changing American culture, and what new directions God is calling us all to explore. Hopefully, by opening up these topics of discussion (and even responding to the controversies and mixed opinions they often involve), we’ve helped lay some groundwork for more serious consideration in the very near future.

As an interim, part of my job was never really knowing how long we’d be here, because the search period for ministers is about as unpredictable as the search a congregation goes through to call a new pastor. In a perfect world, it would be nice if the two schedules matched exactly, but that isn’t the case. It’s no different from Biblical tales of prophets, saints, and others finding themselves unexpectedly sent by God to new places.

And now, as some of you may already know, I have received another call, along with my partner Hannelore, to be a co-pastor at Union Congregational Church in Maynard, Massachusetts. We will be starting there around late July. So our remaining time here with you is growing short.

I would like to thank you all for your kindness, hospitality, understanding, encouragement, and support during these exciting months of ministry together. West Yarmouth Congregational is a church with a long history of faith, fun, fellowship, and family worship, one which can be very proud of its heritage and accomplishments.

My fondest farewell prayer for you is to continue moving forward on your own path into the future, and making the next 168 years as eventful and life-giving as the decades that preceded them. Onwards!

--Pastor Tom