Packing The Last Bag - June 12, 2016

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Acts 20:36-38
2 Timothy 4:6-8As most of you know, tomorrow morning the City NorthAmerican van will show up at the parsonage to load our furniture and boxes to move us to Vancouver, WA.
Doug and I have been preparing for this day since mid-February. We started by purging. As he put it, Doug excavated the home office. He took over 80 pounds of old financial records to the Recycling Center to be shredded. We took bags of books to Read It Again, bags of clothes and household goods to The Hope Center, and various other stuff to the Habitat Surplus Sale. I scanned twelve boxes of old sermons onto a single thumb drive. I think we've been responsible

for an increase in Moscow's recycling tonnage.
In a few moments we will share together in the Order of Farewell To a Pastor. It calls for all of us to do some spiritual purging, harder and more important than shredding old documents. Now is the time to let go of resentments and disappointments.
I have been your pastor for twelve years, longer by 25% than any other pastor you've ever had. Some of you have been saying for several years, "It's time for a change." That's been hard for me to hear, especially since no one could or would identify specific reasons for the change. I have felt frustrated that this concern has come to me indirectly so that I could not have face to face conversations to try to work things out. I have been hurt and resentful.
Today I throw all of that away. Those emotions can't even be recycled; they must be discarded. I know that you only wanted the best for this church. I forgive you and hope you can forgive me. I too wanted the best for the mission and ministry of this church.
There are also things I will leave behind which I hope will continue to bless this church and further your ministry.
In 2011 we were awarded this plaque for the most baptisms in the entire Annual Conference. The eighteen baptized that year included adults, youth, and infants. A few of those people are not around here anymore, but most of them are. I leave behind these beloved children of God whom you promised to surround with a community of love and forgiveness, which I trust you will continue to do.
I leave behind the children of this church. Someone told me they are my legacy. I'm sad that I won't be here to watch them grow. I leave behind the playground we built in 2007 as one visible sign of our growing ministry with children. I leave behind the acolyte program, the family Christmas Eve service and the other aspects of ministry with and to children. I entrust this ministry to Pastor Debbie, who right away will help to grow it by bringing with her 5-year-old Ruth and Baby Steven.
I leave behind a Family Promise Blanket, this map of Africa, and the vegetables in your gardens you'll be bringing for Backyard Harvest in a few weeks. I am proud of the expanded outreach programs of this church.
Of course, Doug and I did not get rid of everything. Most of it is now packed away in boxes. I'm not quite done, however. This morning I want to pack one last bag, with just a few of the things I will take with me from our dozen years together.
First there is this Pastoral Record Book. It may just look like a book to you but to me it is filled with memories. I've recorded in it the various rituals I've shared with you. Thank you for inviting me into your lives at these vulnerable moments. I've officiated at 38 weddings, 82 funerals, 77 baptisms and received 140 members into this church.
The statistics tell only part of the story. They don't include hospital or home visits, work done together on church committees, or conversations in my office. Some of you are represented in multiple categories. The C family started me off with my first wedding here, and then there were three more C weddings. I've baptized four C children. One of my early funerals here was for a C as was almost my last funeral here.
C H has the dubious distinction of being the only person in my entire ministry for whose family I've done three generations of funerals: her Dad, Bob; her husband, Ken; and her son, Tony.
I take with me all of those moments, sad and joyful all mixed up together. That's what this book represents.
I take with me the joyful and beautiful music of this church, represented by this CD of handbell music. Thanks to the choir for trying some of my crazy ideas, like singing parts of The Messiah one Advent and the following Lent; an occasional hymn nobody knew, and so much more. Your melodies will ring in my heart.
And I take each of you with me, represented by our brand new pictorial directory. You may have noticed that I am not listed on the staff page. You'll find us in the alphabetical listing. As of tomorrow morning I will no longer be your pastor. Please don't call me for those rituals I listed in my book. It will hurt both of us when I have to tell you no. For the same reason, I have "unfollowed" you on FaceBook. I want to be your friend, and it is important for me to separate myself from this church. I want you to bond with Debbie. Please invite her into your lives at those tender moments. I will still care, deeply. I'll send you cards. I won't come. Partly that's because starting July 1 my priority will have to be with the Mill Plain Church. Partly it is because I don't want to get in the way of your bonding with Debbie, and if I were here it would be difficult for me to not step back into the role of Pastor Sue.
In the directory is our physical address. Let's let go of the more modern ways of communication for a year and go back to those slower forms, so we have time to adjust to a new relationship.
(From the back) Flame: Hey! What are you doing!
Sue: Oh hi, Flame'. I'm packing a bag because I'm moving.
Flame: Wow, I didn't know people migrated. Are you like gray whales or monarch butterflies?
Sue: Well, sort of. They spend different seasons in different places. I'm going to a new place for a season.
Flame: Flamingoes don't usually migrate, but sometimes if the weather changes we move to new places.
Sue: I'm certainly going to a place with a different climate. Vancouver is warmer and wetter.
Flame: I remember when it snowed here on June 10. I'm a tropical bird. I almost froze my feathers off. Say, did you say it is warmer where you are going?
Sue: Well, it is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, though I hear they've already had temperatures in the 90's.
Flame: Sounds perfect. Can I come?
Sue: I was going to ask you. Would you rather fly or ride in this bag?
Flame: How far is it?
Sue: about 300 miles.
Flame: The kids in this place have about worn me out. I think I'll ride.
Sue: step in and make your nest.
Flame: Hmm, kinda lumpy, but I guess it'll do.

So you see, now my bags are packed and I'm ready to go. Thank you for your love, your support and yes, your challenges. Oh, one other thing. When I came here I received this historic stole with the names of every pastor who has served this church. I've worn it occasionally, though mostly it hangs in the back. I take it off now, ready for the name of Debbie Sperry to be added to it.
Please turn now to the Order of Farewell.