One of my favorite hymns is "Here I Am Lord." The lyrics are rich with trust in God. Sometimes I tremble when I sing it: "Here I am Lord...I have heard you calling in the night...I will go Lord if you lead me..." It is quite a thing to tell God "I'll go if you lead me" and mean it.
For awhile now God has been leading me to be pastor of a church. God has whispered, sung and spoken the call--but lately God has been shouting! The gracious folks of Scottsville Baptist Church in Scottsville, Virginia have called me to be their pastor. I am thrilled to begin the journey with them. The entire process has been grace-filled and humbling. I am grateful.
Anyone who listened to pop music in the 1990s remembers "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." As I depart for Scottsville I leave Memorial Baptist Church. Leaving a church you love is an acute kind of pain I wouldn't wish on anyone. I trust God's leadership and am eager to serve God's church in Scottsville, but I will miss Memorial. Never have grief and excitement captured me so fully at the same time.
More than grief or excitement however, I am grateful. I am grateful for six wonderful years at Memorial. I am grateful for God's call to pastor Scottsville. I am grateful for God's people in both places. I am grateful and blessed.
The last line of "Here I Am Lord" promises "...I will hold your people in my heart."
That I will. That I will.
Congratulations Katie and to Scottsville! They are certainly getting a great pastor and leader for their community. I am sure this will be tough for Memorial, but at the same time in the midst of difficulty there is room for new opportunities not yet seen—an chance to embody faith.
ReplyDeleteI hope we'll have a chance to connect before you leave. If there is anything I can do to support you or the students at Memorial please let me know. Many prayers for the next leg of the journey!
Congratulations Katie! I'm so excited for you and I can't wait to hear about all of your great adventures as pastor of Scottsville.
ReplyDeleteKatie,
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful news! Alyson and I are so happy for you. You will do a tremedous job. I might have to plan a vacation to that area in order to come and hear you preach!
Grace and peace,
Taylor
Thank you Josh for your encouragement and kind words. Thanks for your offer of help and most importantly: Thanks for your prayers.
ReplyDeleteThank you Coleridge.
Thank you Taylor and Alyson. Please come to Scottsville to vacation. The mountains are lovely and there is trout fishing galore! Thanks for your encouragement and kind words.
This is so great! Many congrats!
ReplyDeleteThank you Myles!
DeleteCongratulations Katie! I know you'll be a blessing to your new church family. - Rebecca Hernandez
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebecca! Hope you are well.
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