MOVING ON
Nathan Attwood Pastor, Marianna First United Methodist Church
"When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship." Acts 20:36-38.
We are a small town and word gets around quickly, so I anticipate many of you have heard the news that I am moving on. In my United Methodist Church, pastors are appointed annually by a bishop and can be moved at any time. We make ourselves available to go where we are most needed for the sake of the Gospel.
For a decade, the place my superiors felt I was most needed was Marianna. What a decade it has been! Exigencies beyond my expectation have given me work to do for Jesus Christ in Mariann that have given good reason for me to stay, one year at time. Many of those reasons were not specific to my church only but have caused me to engage the community at large--Hurricane Michael, COVID, and more. So, I find it fitting to use this column to say, "Thank you."
In the New Testament, leaders like Paul were commissioned by the laying of hands, were sent by those under whom they were in authority, and made themselves part of communities in which they established Christian fellowships. Paul describes in his letters, and the Book of Acts describes also, Paul joining his heart to families of Christians, only to be heartbroken when the time came to move on. In Acts 20, Paul shares the news of his moving on to the people of Ephesus. They wept together, prayed together, and blessed Paul as Paul was obedient to go. Loving deeply enough to be grieved to leave while obeying the call to move on for the sake of mission has been part of what Christian servants have done from the very beginning.
Everywhere I go in Marianna, I run into someone who talks to me about this column. Some of you are members of my church, some of you are members of other churches, and some of you have no church (yet!). I can't express how much joy it gives me to know that my random thoughts about the Bible, Jesus, and grace showing up in the ordinariness of life have made a difference for you. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your kind affirmation.
I will be in Marianna until July 1. Please feel free to reach out. I've gotten connected to so many of you. For ten years, we've shared life at football games, homes, Mainstreet Marianna meetings, hospital rooms, banquets, community gatherings, hurricane relief work, Habitat for Humanity events, to many funerals, and so much more. Wherever we have connected, even if it's only through this column, please know I leave a part of my heart here in Marianna and I take you with me in my heart as I go.