Hello-Goodbye

Written by Ed Kauffman

It is probably a bit unusual, for a new pastor to be preaching his first sermon at the farewell service for the Associate Pastor.  I was reminded of the Beatles song, “Hello, Good-bye”.  Yet in some ways it is a good transition for me, in that I can draw on my Conference Minister (or Area Minister) experience as I ease back into the pastoral role.  So this is my first official sermon here, but this is first and foremost, a day for saying goodbye to Alissa as she moves on to a new ministry back in her home province of Ontario.

 

Leaving a congregation where you have ministered is not an easy task, nor is entering a new one particularly easy.  I’ve left three congregations, and now entered my fourth, and in each case leaving presented a whole range of emotions.  However, I have come to understand that endings are extremely important, and if we don’t do endings well, we can’t do beginnings very well either.  And so I want to look at several passages of Scripture that speak to those endings and beginnings and offer some words to Alissa.  You all can listen in.

 

While there are numerous “farewell” speeches in the Bible – one could cite Moses in Deuteronomy 29-30, Samuel in I Samuel 12, Joshua in Joshua 23, and even Jesus in John 15-17, I have chosen Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 as an example.  All of them have common elements.  As Paul is headed for Jerusalem, he calls together the elders at Ephesus and says farewell.  He has been among them for three years, living and ministering.

 

Three things I note in his speech that I think are important.  First of all, Paul notes that he has been faithful to his calling.  “I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly..”  (v. 20) Now I’m sure there were many things Paul didn’t accomplish. We know there were people who didn’t like some of what he did, that’s a given in ministry.  But success in ministry is not judged by everyone liking you, or huge accomplishments. Rather success is judged in being faithful to the calling to which we are called.  “I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord” (v.24) 

 

There are many ways to look back on a time of ministry.  One can focus on all the things you didn’t do, or could have done, or could have done better or differently, but focusing on those will only leave you drained and depressed, and will hinder future ministry.  I remember leaving my first pastorate, and thinking, what in the world did I accomplish in that congregation in those 8 years.  It seemed like very little. But if I put those 8 years into the context of the 140 year history of the congregation, I being its 6th pastor, I was amazed at what had happened, and saw fruits of my ministry well after I had left.  I mean, they called a woman as part of their next pastoral team, something that I think would have been unheard of when I came.

 

You have been a faithful minister here at First Mennonite.  Claim that, remember it, and seek to continue that faithful ministry where ever you find yourself.

 

Secondly, Paul shares a concern about what lies ahead for the church.  Paul is never shy about naming his concerns.  “I know that after I am gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” (v.29)  You have spent three years working here – but what’s going to happen now?  Will programs you helped start continue?  Will anyone care for the youth?  Who’s going to relate to so-and-so?  I know the feeling well.  While I tried to connect people, etc. before I left, I wonder whether some of my work will continue and what will happen.  It’s a concern that is well founded.  We don’t know what’s going to happen.  Different people bring different gifts and interests. They do things differently.  Some things may not continue, things will fall through the cracks. 

 

It is at that point that we learn to let go, and trust God and God’s Spirit to prevail.  Paul says to the Ephesians, “And now I commend you to God, and to the message that is able to build you up…” (v.32)  Leaving means letting go, trusting that God will continue to work among the people we leave, and recognizing that none of us is indispensable to the work God is doing.  That’s not always easy, when we have given ourselves to a ministry.  But God is faithful, and God’s purposes will continue even without us. 

 

The congregation also faces some of those same fears.  How will we get along without Alissa?  Who’s going to do this, or that?  What does the future hold?  As the hymn writer says, we may not know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future, and thus can release that future into God’s hands.  A bit later we will formalize that letting go, both on your part and on the part of the congregation.

 

And finally, this passage recognizes the grief in parting.  “There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again.” (vv.37-38)  No matter how long the time is of ministry, leaving involves grief and tears.  When you minister among people you develop close ties, you have worked intimately with people, you know them, sometimes in ways few others do.  And, while we don’t expect that you are heading off to be martyred, it is true that there are some people here that you will never see again.  That has been true for me in every situation, and sometimes it was people that I expected to see again. 

 

As I made my final visits to some of the congregations I related to, I always left with a sadness in knowing there were people whom I would not see again.  In Rochester, MN I paid a final visit to Arthur, a retired doctor suffering from Parkinsons, who wasn’t able to come to church that Sunday, so I drove by his llama farm to visit.  As I drove in, his daughter had told him I was coming, and he was waiting for me in his 4-wheeler to take me for a tour around the grounds, showing off his llamas, trees, etc.  He was also grieving because he was needing to give up those grounds, and move into sr. living.  It was a poignant moment, and I’m quite sure I will not see Arthur again.  I’m sure we both knew that. 

 

The good news is, that there are people you will see again, and you are welcome to come visit.  But parting brings grief, and the reality of final partings is real.  Accept that, thank God for the people who have touched your life, and whose lives you have touched, and again commend them to God’s care and keeping. 

 

Today, however, doesn’t end your ministry among God’s people, for the church is present where ever God’s people gather, whether in Calgary, or in Hamilton, Ontario.  And so, having said your good-byes, releasing the people of First Mennonite into God’s care, and taking a well-earned time off, you will continue ministry among God’s people in Hamilton.

 

So as you enter that new field of ministry, Paul’s words of encouragement to Timothy are important to keep in mind.

 

First of all, remain grounded in the faith. “Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed” (v. 14)  Entering a new congregation can overwhelm you with new names, committees, things to do and learn. Sometimes crisis come quickly, and you’re faced with immediate and real needs.  In the midst of all that, it is easy to forget to nurture yourself, to spend time with God and Scripture.  But I have learned, and am keeping reminding myself, that the patterns I set early on will be those I am likely to sustain, so I need to be mindful of what I do.  Staying grounded in the faith keeps one “equipped for every good work.”

 

Paul then, with rather strong words, urges Timothy to proclaim the message.  “In the presence of God and of the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message.”  (4:1)   Whether people want to hear it or not, proclaiming the word is part of our task.  Again, how you begin is important and speaking the truth, showing integrity in all you do is essential to the work of ministry.

 

And finally, be true to yourself.  Know who you are, know that you can be and are a ministering person, and carry out your ministry as God has called you.  First and foremost, you need to live with yourself and your God.  There will be lots of voices suggesting how you might do things, but if it’s not you, don’t try.

 

For you as a congregation, much of what I’ve said is also true for you.  Today is a time of letting go of a pastor who has worked among you for the past three years.  There is some uncertainty about the future.  Yes, I’m here, but I’m still a bit of an unknown factor. I won’t do things the same way Marv and Alissa did them – maybe that’s good, maybe not. 

 

And there is grief at Alissa’s leaving.  She has been among you and become not only your pastor, but also a friend and companion on your journey.  You will miss her, and so the grief is real.  Allow yourselves to grief that loss, both today and in the days to come.

 

But know that this is God’s church, and God’s work, and that the message we share is one that can build us up and give us that inheritance with all the saints.  Knowing this, we can trust that God will fulfill God’s purposes and move forward confident of God’s love and care, both for Alissa, and for us as we move into the next chapter here at First Mennonite.

 

Let us pray:

 

Gracious God, just as other leaders and pastors have left their congregations and moved to other scenes of ministry, so Alissa leaves Calgary to pursue your call on her life among your people in Hamilton.  Go with her, bless her, and give her the assurance of your accompanying Spirit.  As we grieve our loss, we rejoice that your work continues here and wherever your people gather.

Through Christ we pray.  Amen.

 

As I noted earlier, we want to formally release Alissa from her role her at First Mennonite, and I’m going to ask Ruth, as worship leader, and also as chair of the Deacons to come and lead in this litany.  Invite Alissa to come forward as well.