A few weekends ago I served as a chaperone for one of
our senior high youth events at a retreat center in central Virginia. It is one
of the many youth trips I’ve had the pleasure of attending over the past five
years in my role as Associate Pastor at this congregation. The following is a
portion of a letter I wrote after the event to the parents of the youth group
now that I begin a transition into a new role in the congregation:
My new call as senior pastor
will undoubtedly change the amount of time in which I interact with the youth
group at Epiphany. In the short term, I will still be fairly involved in the
programs, but eventually I will step back as we call a new associate pastor and
adjust staff responsibilities. However, I will not disengage from the youth
group (and going to youth events) entirely. A desire from the congregation for
me to have regular contact with youth ministry is something I heard
loud-and-clear in the call process for senior pastor and also read in the
survey results. I hope to work with a new associate pastor in new ways that
allow us both to have a hand in shaping youth ministry, which is not limited to
the youth group. It also includes confirmation and the other ways youth are active
in the life of our congregation. In addition, the creativity and commitment
from our cadre of Timothy Ministers will be invaluable as all this begins to
take shape.
I guess it goes without saying that change is afoot. But, really, when you stop
and think about it, isn’t the church always changing? Seniors graduate, middle
schoolers become new high schoolers, elementary school students become new
middle schoolers. Pastors leave and new pastors are called. Families move away;
new families join. And, of course, there are deaths and there are births. But
the changes that the church experiences are not primarily due to life cycles
and school schedules. To be honest, the Holy Spirit is the true agent of
change. The Spirit is always moving among the church, bringing about new
ministries, new possibilities, new strengths and new ways to witness to the
power of the cross. This change can be invigorating, but it can also be a
little frightening at times.
This weekend, as I looked out
at the rows of youth swaying to the rhythms of the worship songs, I was momentarily
struck by all this change and motion. I’d seen it dozens of times before, their
arms all linked across each other’s shoulders and drifting back and forth like
waves in the sea, but this time it seemed to symbolize the great shifting in my own vocational life. I felt almost adrift. Then, in the midst of all this my eyes wandered over to the stage. I
noticed that standing middle of it all—still and very solid—was the altar of
the Lord, set with the bread and wine for our worship. It was a moment of peace
and realization for me: in the midst of whatever God’s people face, Christ will
provide stability. There, in the midst of all our comings and goings—in the
midst of all our hello-ing and goodbye-ing, our readjustments and reassignments
and, of course, our living and dying—will be Jesus. Always. Constant. A Mighty
Fortress. “Though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with
their surging” (Psalm 46). This is good. This where my hope needs to rest. Not with me or with any particular role or set of gifts I think I may have or anyone else has. The change brought about by the Holy Spirit is always anchored in the real presence of Christ. [And any metaphorical relationship
that Scripture bears to spending a weekend with 300 energetic youth on an icy
mountain is completely unintentional, by the way].
All this is to say that I am
thankful for the 5 years I’ve been the associate pastor at Epiphany Lutheran
Church and I’m so grateful I’ve been extended the call to serve for many more!
I am most thankful for that constant presence of Christ I have found among you.
