When I dragged my beautiful bride away from her family so that I could attend Boston University to study for the ministry, I promised her twin sister that we would be gone three years. That was in 2003. We have talked many times over the years about the appropriate time to move back to New Mexico, but there was always something else going on that kept us here.
But, last spring, knowing that the conference was probably going to want to move us soon, as well as being ready for the opportunities that leading my own church would afford, Linda said “it’s time to go back home.” So in consultation with the District Superintendent as well as with the Staff Parish Relations Committee, we began working with the New Mexico Annual Conference to seek an appointment there.
There have been many ups and downs to the process and after it looked like we might have to move to a different conference to start or take a part-time appointment in New Mexico, through God’s grace, two weeks ago a full-time appointment opened up and it was offered to us. This is a true blessing for us as transferring between conferences can be very difficult. For example, the New England Annual Conference has stopped taking in transfers unless they are specifically recruited by the conference, and New Mexico is only taking in one person this year, and that, obviously, is me.
The appointment is a two-point charge, meaning I will serve two churches. The main church and the parsonage are located in Melrose, New Mexico, which is about 25 miles outside of Clovis. (Clovis is famous for being the site of the earliest known human habitation in North America, as well as the “Clovis sound” made famous by Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and Waylon Jennings.) Melrose is a town of about 700 people, 10% of whom attend the Methodist church. The smaller church is in House, about thirty miles from Melrose, a town of 70, 15 of whom come to the Methodist church.
On Easter morning I talked about times in our lives when we can be both fearful and joyful at the same time, just like the women at the tomb, and this is one of those times. We are joyful to be heading home and being closer to our families, but with all change comes fear of the unknown. We are excited about new possibilities and opportunities, but sad to be leaving our community here at Sudbury UMC.
Our last Sunday here will be June 19th during which I have been asked to deliver my final sermon to you. More information will come out about the service and other special events that day in an invitation from SPRC. We will be packing the truck on the weekend of June 25th, when we will need some help, and we will also be having several moving sales and would love for you to come take some of our stuff.
We have been blessed to have been able to serve here for four years and the entire family has wonderful memories of this congregation that we will carry for the rest of our lives. It is where Abigail was baptized, and where both of them have grown up. You have allowed Linda to be the “pastor’s wife” in the way she chose, which is a true blessing, and I have learned a lot about what it means to be a minister here. Please know that wherever we go to serve we will carry you with us.
I thank you for the opportunity of being able to serve you and I pray that God will continue to bless you and this congregation.
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