U MATTERS
One night this week our staff team joined together to celebrate Christmas in July - there was turkey, ham, stuffing, Christmas cookies, decorations, and our traditional gift exchange. If you know Chris, you know he loves Christmas. We ate, we laughed, and we shared endless stories about Chris and Barbara. After 12 years of ministry at Union Church there was much to share. We chatted about his various ministries - Music Makers, Christmas Musicals, Youth Band, Worship Teams, Choir Support, Jazz Services, Christmas on the Green and the list goes on.
We chuckled when we learned at one point, Chris oversaw I.T. and was the children’s ministry liaison. We were reminded of his agility when he mentioned the 70 different colleagues he had worked with over the years. We gave thanks for his passion for ministry and desire to do things well - especially if there was food involved and if there wasn’t food, he often rallied the troops. We reminisced and reflected on how much he has meant to us - his encouragement, his support, his laughter, his friendship, his servant heart and his desire to do things big. We gave thanks for his heart for God, the church and for his ability to pull people into ministry.
We also gave thanks for Barbara. We will miss her dearly - she is a community builder. Barbara is a student of the Word, a thoughtful teacher who has been faithfully leading the Wednesday small group for years. She has also served the congregation in the sound booth - operating ‘easy worship’ and is a Stephen Minister.
Chris and Barbara, to you we say - well done good and faithful servants. You have served the people of God well - you have fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. You leave a big hole in our hearts and we will miss you. Thank you for sowing so faithfully at Union Church.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and may His face shine upon you and give you peace.
– Pastor Michele
