Pastor Katie’s Letter

To God’s beloved people at John Wesley United Methodist Church:Well, goodbyes are never easy. How strange it feels to write these words, knowing they will be my last to you as your pastor at John Wesley United Methodist Church.

This goodbye is made even more difficult by the fact that we cannot be together for worship during this strange time. While I continue to believe that worshiping from home is the best way to care for the health and safety of our congregation and our community, I miss seeing each of you on Sunday mornings. I miss singing together, praying together, enjoying coffee fellowship together. I miss our community.

And I will continue to miss this community as I move on to join another faith community in a new place. Over our three years together, I have been grateful for your love and support, your faithfulness and generosity, and the many ways you have welcomed me (and Monday, and then Ben) into your church family. I can honestly say that I am a better pastor and person for the time I have spent in ministry at John Wesley UMC.

In difficult moments, when I’m not quite sure what to say, I often find comfort in the words of the Church. One of my favorite prayers of blessing is in our Book of Worship, and is meant for saying farewell to church members. Today, I offer these words of blessing back to you in gratitude for our time together and in hope for the future:

I feel sorrow to be leaving you,
yet I look with hope and anticipation
toward this new phase of your life and mine.
I will miss your love and support,
yet I know that you will add much
to the lives of Pastor Doug Hoffman and his family,
as you have added much to my life.
I will continue to pray for you
and for the whole family of God.

Grace and peace to you,
Your Pastor,
Katie O’Hern Hamilton