May 24th, 2022

Dear friends,
 
You’d think after 2+ years of the twists and turns of responding to Covid, the church would be more comfortable with change. However, I’m finding that’s not the case. We struggle longing for some constancy, some regular pattern we can relax within. But here we find ourselves amidst more change.
 
I hope all of you were able to hear our new Designated Pastor Nominating Committee (DPNC) chair Philip Thomas’ announcement in worship on Sunday (either in person or via our worship video online.) Philip clarified for us all the difference between calling and installing a designated pastor and a permanent one. This detail is important to get right.
 
Philip’s announcement is the first in a series we can expect as the DPNC gets to work and shares their progress with the congregation. It’s crucial to understand that the DPNC needs to balance their autonomy and the confidential nature of the people and materials they are discussing with the interest of the congregation. The DPNC have stated their hope of being as transparent as possible with the congregation. To further that goal in addition to voting for a chair, they placed Ginger Jablonski in the role of communication liaison.
 
Another point I’d like to clarify for you all is that I cannot serve as your bridge interim pastor; someone else will need to be hired for that position. In other words, we can’t just limp along with only me as your pastor while the DPNC completes their search. According to Presbytery rules, anyone who serves as an interim (bridge or otherwise) can not serve as a pastor of any stripe after the new designated or permanent pastor arrives. My hope and plan is to remain your associate pastor until I retire in 3 years or so. Meanwhile, my grandbabies are growing up way too fast and being their often-present-with-them Gigi is the goal that feeds and blesses my heart. I’m so grateful you’ve made that a possibility with my part-time schedule.
 
I know for some of you, this is way too much detail. Some of you like having all the facts. All of us long to celebrate the arrival of our new pastor-for-the-long-term. In the meantime, the most valuable thing any of us can do is pray. Start praying now for our new senior pastor, whomever they are. Pray for me; I feel your love and prayers holding me in the road. I need them. Pray for our staff as they navigate these in-between times. Pray for your DPNC and for the church leadership. Pray that in all this, God is glorified in our hearts and in this place.
 
In anticipation of all God has in store for us!
Claire

Ps – We are truly grateful to everyone who has completed the CAT survey! If you are growing weary with emails and reminders coming from FPC, please remember that the church office and Mike and Mike have no way to tell who has completed the survey and who hasn’t because of its anonymous nature. This means we cannot tell who to delete from our email distribution list. FPC will stop emails requesting the survey be completed on June 4th. Please bear with us until then.