Name/Title
Newsletter, Church, Union-Congregational, UCC, October 1986Description
Rev. George Woldseth goodby letter, October, 1986.
OCTOBER 1986 THE PILGRIM MESSENGER PAGE 2
* * * A LETTER FROM YOUR PASTOR * * *
As I leave for St. Petersburg, I want to thank you for your friendship and the opportunity to serve you for close to fourteen years. As you look to the future, I want to assure you of my prayers and good wishes. While the calling process may take some time, as you stay patient, in due time, able leadership will be secured.
Many of you have opportunity to vacation in Florida, when you do so, I would be pleased to have you stop by. I will enclose the address and phone number of the church. From time to time I am sure I will see many of you.
I have given much thought as to what I would say in my last letter to you as your pastor. Much of what I would say, I have said many times before. The greatest joy in life is to know, love and serve Christ. The church is that community where the love of Christ is proclaimed and shared. Stay close to Christ and his Church. Share the good news with one another, the community and the world. By your words, actions and financial priorities, continue to proclaim God's love to all the world.
As the people of God, we have a vision of peace on earth and justice for all humanity. Let us keep that vision ever before us, to make that vision a reality. My prayer for you, as a church, is that you be found on the side of peacemakers - "beating swords into plowshares". With
so much poverty in our world, we don't lack for opportunities to share bread with the hungry. Peacemaking, economic justice and proclaiming the gospel of God's love, all go hand in hand.
As new leadership comes to Union-Congregational Church, I hope you will be supportive of changes in the life of the church. I know there is strong resistance to anything new or different in the life of the church. Someone said the seven last words of the church are, "We've never done
it that way before." If anything, over my years in Waupun, I've been conservative in my approach to change. Yet even as conservative as I was, change was invariably met with some degree of resistance. A new minister will bring with him/her theological and biblical insights.
Allow your pastor the opportunity to be innovative and creative. God can do something new in our midst, as we are open to change. Certainly I don't want anyone to ever say, "But Pastor Woldseth did it this way."
Finally, I want to thank you for that very moving farewell service. I was touched very deeply by your expressions of love and gratitude. I want you to know how much I appreciate each one of you. Your gifts were very thoughtful and will be treasured by me.
You will always be in my thoughts and prayers.
George Woldseth
Address: Trinity United Church of Christ
1150 49th St. No.
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710
Phone Number: 813-321-1088
813-321-8589
From the PastorAcquisition
Accession
2009.0021Source or Donor
James & Harriet LairdAcquisition Method
Donation