Pastors Announce Reappointment

Pastors Gwyneth and Jamie announced in worship today that they have been appointed to churches in northern Massachusetts. As of July 1, Pastor Jamie will be serving half time at First UMC in Amesbury. They have just voted to become a new site of the large and growing multi-site ministry in Plaistow and Sandown New Hampshire. Pastor Gwyneth will also be serving half time, at Merrimacport UMC, although will be taking a renewal leave through the summer so will begin her appointment September 1.

Though neither Peoples nor the pastors were looking for a change in appointment at this time, the specific needs of the Amesbury and Merrimacport churches led the Bishop and District Superintendents to make this change. They are in the process of discerning who will be the new pastor appointed to Peoples. Though this could take a few weeks, the new pastor will be ready to begin July 1. The Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) is already in conversation with our District Superintendent about the specific gifts Peoples is currently seeking in a pastor. Please contact Keith Snoddy as the chair if you have any input for the committee.

With the announcement, Pastors Jamie and Gwyneth preached a shared sermon on dealing with the stress of this transition with direct communication, prayer, Bible study and a complete dependence on Jesus. In all of this it is helpful to remember that the church is the people, regardless of changes in building location, pastors or ministries. This is not the time to go looking for another church! Rather, it’s the time to draw even closer together as the Peoples family, and continue reaching out to the community in vital ministry.

Please feel free to contact the pastors through the next several months with questions or just some conversation. Pastor Jamie will also be leading a Sunday School class beginning May 8 at 8:30am to address topics such as our United Methodist connection, appointment system, care and hospitality for the new pastor and family, preparing the lay leadership for this transition, etiquette in terms of contact with the outgoing pastors, and other subjects that may arise.

Here are some questions for all of us to ponder in the next few months:
• How you I help continue the ministries of Peoples through this transition and make them even stronger?
• What are some ways I can show hospitality to the new pastor and family? Some ideas might include having flowers waiting in the parsonage, arranging for meals for the first few days after arriving, providing a tour of the community, and having everyone wear nametags in worship.
• What would be most helpful in order to say goodbye to the Arrison family?

Please ponder these questions and others that arise, and please especially be in prayer for all of the pastors and churches who are in transition.

Together in Ministry for Christ,
Gwyneth and Jamie