To Whom it May Concern: Old Guy and New Guy

For some reason, which I am unsure of at the moment, the Methodist church likes to play a little game each spring called shuffle the minister. They take churches which are perfectly happy with their ministers and yank said minister away, then shove them into a new church to “spread their gifts” or some other such jazz. This usually happens to really good ministers about every seven years. It has been year number seven for the current minister at the best little pink church ever.

Dear Old Guy:

I mean this old in the most respectful of ways. Old like my favorite pair of flip flops–perfectly broken in but with a another few summers left in them. Confession? When I first met you I was a little unsure I liked you. You seemed perfectly nice, but I was not convinced that you were good enough for the best church ever. It did not take long for me to decide that you were exactly what the little pink church needed. You held our hands through the growing pains of change. You taught us how to reconstruct ourselves into a church that faces out instead of in, while still staying grounded in prayer. You taught me that being unsure is okay, that is when faith takes over. We can never thank you enough for sharing your gifts with us.

I know you said we will not stop being friends, but it will be different, your focus will change, and so will ours…I guess that is the point of relocations, it causes all of us to grow. Your new church has no idea what a good thing they have coming. We shall miss you, and your sweet family, and you will remain in our prayers …the prayers that are more confident than ever because of your teaching.

Sincerely,

Hey You ForgiveMeForHavingSomeoneElseDoOurWedding-Huckablog

Dear New Guy:

I just compared my favorite ever pastor to a pair of flip-flops. Comfortable, goes with everything, well loved flip flops. We have not yet met, but I have heard nothing but good things about you and Central (the parental hand holding during the sermon? Genius!). Just for the record—I often order shoes online which I have never seen in person, and have found my favorites that way.

It is kind of exciting isn’t it? Kind of like that nervous little thrill you have before your plane goes into the air on a new adventure. I always have liked a good adventure; I never would have discovered my love for Sashimi if not a little open to new things.

I hope we like you, that we come to love you like we do the old guy, but I also hope you like us. What if you don’t? What if the idea of a two-year old who sits in the second pew and has been known to talk through prayers makes you break into a cold sweat and lose your place? What if you look around our sweet and charming church and find it dated and unwelcoming? What if you just see an un-built playground and unsuccessful projects and don’t see all of the things that we have accomplished? What if you think having perfect music is more important than the sincerity of the musicians’ hearts? What if—just what if? Oh, what if you think that people who worry about everything have no faith?

Do you really believe that the conference knows what it is doing? Do you have faith that God is bringing you to our little pink church for a reason? I do. Really, I do. I am praying and praying for even more certainty in that answer.

Welcome, I look forward to having a second pew seat for this new adventure. I will be the one holding the wiggly two year old wearing yellow rain boots.

Sincerely,

Hey You 5^th Generation Methodist-Huckablog

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