Prayers of Transition
As Jesus met with his disciples in the Upper Room, on that night when he knew that he would soon leave his followers, he spoke his last words to them. They were words spoken with deep love. Hear again his prayer:
“Now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are… I have told them many things so that they may be filled with my joy… Keep them safe from the evil one… Make them holy by your truth, teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. …. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one… May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” (John 17:11-24)
You know that I am not Jesus! But Jesus is in me, and Jesus is in you, this congregation at Chenango Bridge. So here is my prayer for you as I say goodbye:
Holy God, I thank you for all at First United Methodist Church who have accepted and received me and my family as ones sent by you. Thank you for the joyful times. Thank you for the strenuous times. Thank you for the celebrations of people discovering the joy of life in you. Continue to fill these friends with your Holy Presence, your Holy Spirit, so that they may know the perfect unity which Jesus prayed for us all. Even though we may be miles apart, we remain united in Christ. As Jesus has sent us out, so we all go each to our own homes and neighborhoods, to our own jobs and tasks. As we go, may we be so united with you that others see that you have sent us. You have given us the task to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Strengthen us and empower us to succeed in that in every way possible. We are, after all, your beloved servants. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Finally, I ask you to forgive me for the times I have failed you. Nothing good will come from harboring resentment or anger from disappointment. I know that I have not always given people what they wanted or expected from their pastor. At times, I have not been able to what I knew was the ‘best of Roger,” but I have always tried to give the best I could at any moment.
As you receive Pastor Bob Clark, I know that you will embrace him with the same love with which you embrace me, Carolyn, Ryan, and Emily. And that is good!
God fill First UMC of Chenango Bridge with the fullness of your joy. Amen.
With love, Pastor Roger
Church Council
Our new organizational structure is being led by the following leaders, who have all experienced a six-hour training workshop in the accountable leadership model. In that model, the Church Council governs the direction of the church, the Pastor leads the staff (both paid and volunteer) in fulfilling the vision and mission of the church, and the congregation ministers first to others in our community and then within our church itself.
Pastor Bob has visited and met all of these Council members. Please commit yourself to supporting Pastor Bob and the Church Council as they govern and lead our great church into an exciting future of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
| Church Council Members | ||
| Chair | David Black | |
| Pastor | Pastor Bob Clark (July 2017) | |
| Council Secretary | Erica Melly | |
| Stewardship Team Leader | David Lewis | |
| SPRC member (chair) | 2018 | Carol Krizan |
| SPRC member | 2019 | Pam Wasley |
| SPRC member | 2020 | Shirley Prentice |
| Trustee | 2018 | Jim Root |
| Trustee | 2019 | Vicki Kwartler |
| Trustee (Chair) | 2020 | Hudda Aswad |
