Rose Hill United Methodist Church recently issued the following announcement.
Dear Friends of the Rose Hill United Methodist Church,
Thank you for the privilege of being in ministry with you as your pastor for almost 6 years. You are a wonderful congregation and your care for me has been amazing. Thank you.
After 42 years of serving as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, and at the age of 72, I am required to retire, and I have decided to take a break from serving as the pastor of a local church effective July 1.You each of you are very special to me. I am glad you are part of this church and my life. I have so many positive memories of you and my time in Rose Hill. From my first Sunday when I made an exaggerated remark to which I heard a loud, “yeah, right!, to my first call in the hospital, to meeting you for the first time, to hosting a family in our building for three days while they searched for a missing person, to paying off the building mortgage, to finding treasurers on my desk after the garage sale, to weddings, to funerals, to reading to the children at Wee Rockets, and to those quiet conversations when I sensed the presence of God’s love overflowing. Thank you. So many wonderful people in several churches have been part of my life over these years, and I value each one. My hope and prayer is that we have learned, loved, and grown in all of our relationships. It has truly been a gift. While I have no specific plans for my retirement, I am looking forward to reading, playing golf, traveling, writing, and volunteering. However my first goal is to simply take some time off. The Rose Hill United Methodist Church has been a great place to be in ministry. You have a great future ahead of you. Of course, you are like any church and have some challenges. You are also both gifted and loving people who sense God’s call to bring peace, mercy, justice, and compassion to Rose Hill, Kansas, and the world. Please, keep being open to God’s call in your lives! Again, thank you for the honor of being in ministry with you. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fullness of the Holy Spirit be with you always. God says, “143 (I Love You),” and I say, “143 (I Love You)!” Peace and Grace, Pastor John
Alerts Sign-up