Dear Friends in Christ,
“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
   Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
   Will you let my love be shown,
   Will you let my name be known,
   Will you let my love be grown in you and you in me?”
     “The Summons”  text- John Bell  ELW #798

 This is a hymn that I was taught from the congregations of First Evangelical, North Salem and St. Paul’s  here in Upper Sandusky.  God has touched my heart greatly through this song.   God has touched my heart greatly through you.

This invitation to come and follow the Lord comes to us at our baptism as we are loved, accepted and chosen to be God’s children.  This call continues in each of our lives as we are invited to use our own unique gifts for loving others and sharing the Gospel in this world.

Being in interim pastor has been the way I’ve been answering God’s call to follow for the past 11 years.  It has been a challenge and a joy, and I don’t regret for a moment answering God’s call.  That’s my story, but the call comes to every one of us in different ways, to do different ministry in our lives.  What is God’s call for you?  I’m not going to list all of the possibilities here because God is much more creative than I am, and I don’t want someone to think that just because I didn’t list it, their call is not real.  God’s call is always real, no matter what form it takes at different parts of our life.  Listen… God is calling you.  God’s work.  Our hands.

The line in the hymn that speaks lovingly to me as I prepare to leave you is “Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?”  I didn’t know you when I came here, but in the time we’ve spent together God has shaped my ministry and I am a better pastor because I’ve been able to serve among you.  God stretched, shaped, (had to knock me flat for a while ;-D  ) and wisely formed my ministry, even as God was stretching and shaping you. What an amazing privilege to be part of that experience with you.  I am grateful to have been able to serve alongside Pastor Julianne, Pastor Henry, the councils, the LIP Board (now the LIFE Programming Committee), the study group, the Cooperative Ministry Board and all of you in different ways.  I am sad to have to say goodbye, but it is time, once again, for me to answer the call to “go where I don’t know and never be the same…”

I am excited for your future, and for the opportunity that you will have to get to know and care for Pastor Joe and Sandy.  I am excited for the ways I see you continuing to grow in love and service together as Lutherans in Faith for Everyone.  I can’t wait to see what God is up to through you here in this place.  I encourage you to answer God’s call, no matter how big or small you might think it is.  God knows what He’s doing, and he wants to do it through you.  Will you answer his call?

“ Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.”

Gratefully together in Christ,
Pastor Andrea