Gratitude

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and I come closer to my departure at the end of the year, I am counting the many blessings I have enjoyed here at Vienna Presbyterian Church. Sixteen years ago, a friend informed me of the opening at VPC. A few days later I received a call from the former senior pastor Pete James inviting me to apply for the position.

Stuart and I had two young children —a baby and a three-year-old—so I wasn’t actively looking for a new position. But God was opening a door, so I submitted my Personal Information Form. This coming weekend marks 16 years since I interviewed with the committee.

In January of 2007, I was called to be an associate pastor at VPC, and our family moved in April arriving just in time for Holy Week services. God’s grace and providence were evident in working out so many details in receiving and starting a new call. I give thanks to God for his faithfulness.

Our children have grown up in our home in Vienna attending Vienna schools and participating in the community life at VPC. They attended the wonderful VPC preschool. Our oldest said early on, “I have two homes: one on Blair Road and one at VPC.” They also went on to participate in Sunday school, Club 456, Youth Group, and the Youth Worship Band.

My husband Stuart is grateful for the numerous opportunities he has had for various roles in ministry here including in-house editor, Clubs 34 and 56, Growing Your Soul, Stephen Ministry, Great Banquet, GriefShare, and choir.

This family of faith has been a support to us in the ups and downs of our life as a family. In our years here, we have not only raised our children but grieved the death of three of our four parents—my father in 2014 and both of Stuart’s parents in 2017.

Then the day after Thanksgiving of that same year, our younger son woke up and could not walk; his legs were paralyzed. It was a terrifying time as doctors warned us that he would probably have to go to in-patient rehab for six months and might never again walk normally. But ten days after he was admitted to INOVA Children’s Hospital, he walked out and was completely healed. We thank God for the amazing doctors and medical staff who treated him, but we give God the glory for Ian’s healing. Our God made the lame to walk, and we know he used the countless prayers of his people.

Then in the fall of 2020, Stuart was diagnosed with melanoma brain cancer, had surgery, and began immunotherapy. Just after Thanksgiving, my mother had a health crisis and was put on hospice. Once again, our family was lavished with prayer support, notes of care and encouragement, as well as practical support including rides and food and so many other kinds of help.

I share this to say how grateful I am for the way this congregation embraced me and my family and loved us and prayed and supported us both in good times and hard times. Many pastors never enjoy that blessing, and I truly give God thanks for the gift of relationships and the love we have received here. I have had the joy of knowing, loving, being in community with, and serving alongside so many wonderful people. I give thanks to God!

There have not only been difficult seasons for my family but also very painful seasons we as a congregation have shared. It’s a strange thing, but we often grow and change most through struggle and hardship. That has been true for me personally as well as a leader. Through it all, we learn that God’s grace truly is sufficient, and he is with us in everything we go through.

In writing a new resume to look for a new position, I have realized that I have actually done three different jobs here at VPC. I’m grateful for the breadth of experiences I have had and the joy of being stretched and challenged in ways that brought growth and deeper transformation.

Another one of the great gifts of my time at VPC was the course work for my Doctor of Ministry in Reformed Christian Spirituality at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. A third of my course work was through Renovaré Institute where I had the privilege and joy of sitting under the teaching of Dallas Willard for two weeks.

I am so grateful to the session in supporting me in this endeavor by giving me both the time and resources to engage in study. I loved being a student again. But it wasn’t just an academic exercise. It was an opportunity to read great books, to be taught and led by gifted people, and to receive what I needed for a new season of ministry. This was a balm for my soul. But the reflection and writing I did to integrate what I was learning also served as a catalyst for  a new season of ministry that included teaching, writing, and leading in new ways.

This week I had lunch with a former elder who encouraged me by telling me I am resilient. I’m not sure what prompted that comment, but I’m grateful for it. I don’t think that has always been true, but God has used my time at VPC to change me by his grace and power. And I’m thankful for those who have expressed how they too have changed under my teaching and leadership.

The great joy of ministry is not the programs but the people—both staff and laypeople. One of the questions pastors and other officers of the church are asked at the time of ordination is this: “Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?” I love this question, and I count it a blessing that I have enjoyed friendships with so many people with whom I have worked and served with over the years. Though my role at the church is changing, I trust many of these friendships will continue.

I give glory to God for his goodness in calling me to VPC and for the gift of serving as pastor for so long. I have so many reasons to give him thanks. But I also want to give thanks to the people of this church for the love, care, and support they have given me and for the joy of ministering alongside so many for so long. I am truly blessed!