September 30, 2018
Resignation Letter
from Rev. John MacIver Gage
Dear Members and Friends of United Christian Church,
Nearly five years after I first was called here to United Christian Church of Austin to serve as your senior minister, I write today to tender my resignation from this position and give my required 60 days notice. As of their vote today, I have been called to serve as senior minister of the Congregational Church of Needham, Massachusetts.
Please know that I did not make the decision to search for a new call lightly. There has been much in our time together that has been good, even very good. With the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we have learned and grown in our faith together. We’ve shared ministry in the pumpkin patch, the Tuesday noontime study group, rallies and period parties and prayer; in particular, I will remain forever grateful for the gift of sharing holy communion every Sunday. However, I believe the time has come for me to leave so that we all can continue to grow more fully into the disciples God is calling us to be, with our particular gifts and graces.
This is a time to remember that, though I have served as a pastor here a while, you are the church and you have both a history and a future apart from me; indeed, you have your own call from God as a congregation. That will continue. You will continue. And this transition will be a time when you can work together to clarify and refine your sense of mission.
My last Sunday in worship will be November 18, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, when we will share a service of leave-taking and letting go. That gives us plenty of time to celebrate and grieve, and for you as a congregation to begin to make plans for the season of deep discernment ahead. Between here and there, we will fill our time with good, hard, heartfelt goodbyes.
I have been honored, happy, and humbled to journey with you as a pastor at United Christian Church. I believe God has more—more grace, more work—in store for us as we part ways. I ask your prayers for me in this ending and this new beginning and ask you to trust that my prayers remain with you, as well.
Peace,
Rev. John MacIver Gage
Senior Minister
Resignation Letter
from Rev. John MacIver Gage
Dear Members and Friends of United Christian Church,
Nearly five years after I first was called here to United Christian Church of Austin to serve as your senior minister, I write today to tender my resignation from this position and give my required 60 days notice. As of their vote today, I have been called to serve as senior minister of the Congregational Church of Needham, Massachusetts.
Please know that I did not make the decision to search for a new call lightly. There has been much in our time together that has been good, even very good. With the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we have learned and grown in our faith together. We’ve shared ministry in the pumpkin patch, the Tuesday noontime study group, rallies and period parties and prayer; in particular, I will remain forever grateful for the gift of sharing holy communion every Sunday. However, I believe the time has come for me to leave so that we all can continue to grow more fully into the disciples God is calling us to be, with our particular gifts and graces.
This is a time to remember that, though I have served as a pastor here a while, you are the church and you have both a history and a future apart from me; indeed, you have your own call from God as a congregation. That will continue. You will continue. And this transition will be a time when you can work together to clarify and refine your sense of mission.
My last Sunday in worship will be November 18, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, when we will share a service of leave-taking and letting go. That gives us plenty of time to celebrate and grieve, and for you as a congregation to begin to make plans for the season of deep discernment ahead. Between here and there, we will fill our time with good, hard, heartfelt goodbyes.
I have been honored, happy, and humbled to journey with you as a pastor at United Christian Church. I believe God has more—more grace, more work—in store for us as we part ways. I ask your prayers for me in this ending and this new beginning and ask you to trust that my prayers remain with you, as well.
Peace,
Rev. John MacIver Gage
Senior Minister