From the Pastor

God of Love,
You are with us in every transition and change.
As we enter into this new era with excitement and even some anxiety,
we recall your deep compassion, presence, and abounding love.
We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills with which you have blessed us.
We thank you for the experiences that have brought us to this moment.
We thank you for the work of others that gives breadth and depth to our own work.
Be with us as we move forward, rejoicing with you and supporting one another.
We ask this in your Holy Name.

Amen.

– Joseph P. Shadle

Swepsonville United Methodist Church, blessings to you in this season of hope and new life!! Every Sunday, we are celebrating some aspect of new life in Christ–new life of hope!! We will hear witnesses of church members, participate in new members joining our church, and look to the hope that God has for us as a church through our revitalization process!!

It is also a season of change. As most of you know, when a United Methodist pastor is ordained, we are ordained into a larger body than one church, but to a whole area of churches called an Annual Conference (for us, the Eastern part of NC). We commit to be obedient not only to God, but also to the bishop, who looks at all the needs and strengths of churches and pastors in that area, and asks pastors to serve in a particular church at a particular time.

Our bishop has asked me to serve in a new church, starting in June. I will be the pastor of Millbrook UMC in Raleigh, and Swepsonville UMC will also get a new pastor as of June 25. For my part, I am deeply grateful for all of you, for these rich and wonderful five years, and will always hold you in a very special place in my heart! I will continue holding you in my prayers, especially as you seek to bring new life into this church! I ask for your prayers, as well, as my new appointment will have many new challenges that I will have to step up to!

Your new pastor is Gordon Christen. He is a new graduate of Duke Divinity School, and a short intro of him follows.

Our Methodist system requires a lot of trust. But trust (AND HOPE!) are basic tenents of our faith, and every transition holds great possibility! God is moving in you and through you, and will move in your new pastor and your ministry together!