FAREWELL Pastor Barclay
This weekend, Concordia Lutheran Church hosts farewell services for Pastor Barclay (see separate note in this Enews). On Sunday July 12, during our zoom Worship we will also have a chance to say good-bye. These are my words of appreciation and reflections on working together with Douglas for the past three years. This will be shared on Sunday:
Today I extend our appreciation, on behalf of St. Mary’s Church, to Pastor Douglas Barclay for his presence over these past five years. Douglas “met” the people of St. Mary’s long before I arrived, and when I did, Karen Fedorchak, Deacon Emeritus, immediately connected us. Even before we knew each other, Deacon Karen invited Douglas to preach (with my eager consent) at our Celebration of New Ministry. Thus, began our new friendship.
From the beginning we seemed to call out the best in each other, and have a gift for enjoying each other’s parishioners. My fondness grew as our collaborative projects grew, from joint Holy Week services, “trying on” a shared musician, developing a joint music committee, planning a collaborative music program (which was interrupted by the pandemic). Through Douglas’ witness and encouragement, we became founding members of Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance.
My appreciation grew throughout this time, for Douglas’ wise counsel, his visionary leadership, and willingness to stretch himself and others for the sake of the gospel, for the hope of the resurrection. As I look back, we have lived into my mantra that collaboration is a good all its own. We do not collaborate because we are desperate or as a matter of convenience. We collaborate because our relationships matter; we are friends.
The blessings of a colleague like I have had in Douglas may only come once in a lifetime. For this I give all my thanks to God.
And I speak for St. Mary’s as we pray Godspeed on your new journey with the people of Trinity Lutheran Church, Manhatten Beach, CA. We will miss you and I will miss you, my dear friend in Christ.
The Rev. Ann Lovejoy Johnson
Rector, St. Mary’s Church
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Saturday July 11th (raindate July 12th) is Pastor Barclay's Farewell services. If you RSVP'd to Concordia remember that these services will be outside in the memorial garden and require a mask. Please bring your own hand santizer. An email with decisions regarding weather will be sent out on Friday and we will share updates on the St Mary's Facebook page.
