Goodbye Wesley faith community from Bruce and Audrey

It is with hearts filled with gratitude that we say good-bye to the people of Wesley United Methodist Church. During the worship services this past Sunday, and at the reception in the Moore Gathering Area we experienced hundreds of heart-felt expressions from members and friends with whom we have shared joys and sorrows, highs and lows, mission trips and musicals. Mel Prouty and Margaret Lindsey blessed us with prayer, public commendations and a generous check from the church.  Rochelle Collette and the worship arts teams presented Audrey with jewelry and both of us with a clock made in 1905 similar to the clock in the Pastor’s Office at Wesley. (Glen Sanders has restored both the clock given to the church for the pastor’s study, and the one given to us this weekend.) We also received many kind and moving written messages of love in your cards and in the memory book at the reception.

Having said our public farewells, we now turn to the details of handing off the leadership of Wesley to the Rev. Scott Bailey-Kirk, and the packing up of our earthly belongings as we move to Cape Girardeau. Between now and June 26 I will be the lead pastor of Wesley as the needs for daily ministry and service continue. The staff will continue to perform their excellent service in leading the ministries of this church. On Sunday, June 8, The Rev. Mark Struckhoff will be preaching in the sanctuary and the youth will be leading the worship service in the gym at 10:40, as they return from their choir mission trip. On June 15 the Rev. Dwight Chapman will preach at all 4 worship services on the south (Republic Rd.) campus. On June 22 the Rev Mi Hyeon Lee will preach at all 4 services.

At the Wesley Downtown St. Paul Campus the Rev. Ron McIntire preached his final sermon this past weekend and will begin his retirement (again!) having previously retired as a public school superintendent. The Rev. Matt Kerner graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary over Memorial Day weekend, and will conclude his ministry with Wesley as he preaches both the 9:30 and 11:30 worship services downtown on June 8. Beginning June 15 there will be a single worship service at the Wesley Downtown St. Paul campus at 10:30 and held in a large Sunday School room as renovations proceed with the sanctuary.

Audrey and I give thanks to God for the seven years we have been privileged to sojourn among this community. May our Lord richly bless each one who became part of our lives during this season.