May 3, 2024

After three years of an eventful, productive, shared developmental ministry, we’re approaching the time when you and I will say goodbye. 

There are many feelings around this farewell – even just within me.  I know, intellectually, that it’s the right time and that you are going be just fine.  But I have come to care deeply about you and your church and I am going to miss you.

There’s a continuum of approaches to saying goodbye.  On one end, there’s the dragged-out farewell, where it gets over-complicated or we keep finding more things to say or do to postpone the finality (kind of a grown-up version of refusing to being the first to hang up the phone).  On the other end, there’s slipping out the back door and avoiding the moment entirely. 

As we approach our goodbye, we’re trying for a healthy middle ground.

My last day in the pulpit will be June 30.  I’ve saved up most of this year’s vacation and study leave time for July 1-31, so (unless there’s a crisis in July) June 30 will be our last day together.  An event celebrating Paint Branch’s first three years of developmental ministry is scheduled for June 30, after the service.

But before then, I’m hoping to meet with as many of you as possible, so we can say our own goodbye.  We might also reflect on these last three years together – all that our shared ministry accomplished, all that we learned, and what is on your heart as you move into the future.  Since I will be following best practices and avoiding contact with you for two years after my departure, this will our chance to say what we want to say to each other, as part of our “good goodbye.”

If you’d like to meet, please send me an email at minister@pbuuc.org and we’ll find a time and a format that works for you.  

I look forward to our conversation!

– Rev. Ann