Congratulations, St. David’s. We made it! Can you believe that its been almost two years since you and I began this Interim time together and
your new rector will soon be here!
Back in August of 2019, who knew what a crazy, unprecedented Pandemic Year we would all go through together. I still remain so inspired to have seen a great parish pull together and do what needed to be done, and to keep these wonderful ministries going strong. Tough times bring out the true spirit of a people, and St. David’s can be proud of the work that you all did this past year, especially the extraordinarily talented staff, and the faithful, hard-working Vestries that have served St. David’s so well.
I always approach the leaving part of Interim work with mixed feelings. I am so proud of this parish and am so excited about your future! And yet, there is a sadness in moving on as well.
For me, the “leaving” is more significant than usual, for I have decided that it is time for me to retire from full-time ordained ministry. According to the computers at the Church Pension Fund, I have served in ordained ministry for exactly 36.57863 years! (They like to be very exact!).
I will be able to work occasionally as a priest in the diocese, but I will not be able to do further work in the parish that I leave as a full-time priest (ie, St. David's). I think that's actually a wise policy.
This is a big step for me, and I have had mixed feelings, as perhaps many of you know from your own retirement planning! But I'm grateful that I am able to end my full-time ministry at such a parish as St. David's. This parish has been a blessing to me, and I will always remember you all fondly.
Despite the mixed feelings, I am looking at this new era in my life as a "new adventure," and I'm curious as to what God has in store for me now!
Thanks to this wonderful staff and Vestry, and to you all, for being good friends and faithful partners in ministry during this difficult year! And congratulations on this exciting new era ahead!
As you may have heard somewhere, “Life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us, so be quick to love, make haste to be kind, and may the blessing of God be with you always!”
Dean+