Nine years ago I walked into Fields Chapel for the very first time, it just does not seem that long ago!!! On June 15 this year, I leave The Chapel, not necessarily for the last time, but the last time as your Pastor.
It has been my honor and privilege to serve not only the members and friends of Fields Chapel, but also to be a part of an amazing community of people who are working for the kingdom. Thanks for letting me tag along.
I am grateful for the trust that you have placed in me. I have not always deserved or earned it, but you loved me through it. I am forever grateful.
You have given me opportunities to grow in every aspect of my life. You have cared for my family and I. You have suffered through my mistakes. You have tolerated my craziness. You have laughed at my stupid jokes.
We have cried tears of grief and joy together. We have planned and implemented a thousand things, some more successful than others. We have disagreed, and we have prevailed. We have served others, and one anther. We have shared our lives with one anther, some more profoundly than others. But mostly, we have loved.
One letter, one post, can not possible sum up 9 years together, but let me say again from my heart, it has been an honor and privilege to serve you as your Pastor. I am better because of you. I love you. Thank you.
Please accept these words from Ephesians as my prayer for you:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
