A Note from the Pastor's Desk
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Palms West Presbyterian Church
Where ... there's a place for you!
Where ... there's a place for you!
 |
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, he alludes to a
letter he wrote that caused them sorrow, yet he did not regret
writing it because it produced what he called “godly sorrow.” This
godly sorrow energized the church and led them to prove
themselves before God and become a source of encouragement.
This serves to illustrate that there are times in a church’s life when
sorrow – such as the sorrow we share at my departure from Palms
West – can be a useful emotion to move God’s people to action.
This is truly my hope and prayer for PWPC as Sheila and I make
preparations to move to Madison, Georgia where I will become the
new Pastor and Head of Staff at Madison Presbyterian Church.
I want all of you to know that this decision was reached after much
prayer and discernment. After 9 years, it is healthy for a
letter he wrote that caused them sorrow, yet he did not regret
writing it because it produced what he called “godly sorrow.” This
godly sorrow energized the church and led them to prove
themselves before God and become a source of encouragement.
This serves to illustrate that there are times in a church’s life when
sorrow – such as the sorrow we share at my departure from Palms
West – can be a useful emotion to move God’s people to action.
This is truly my hope and prayer for PWPC as Sheila and I make
preparations to move to Madison, Georgia where I will become the
new Pastor and Head of Staff at Madison Presbyterian Church.
I want all of you to know that this decision was reached after much
prayer and discernment. After 9 years, it is healthy for a
either possibility, truly, because we have been very happy here. Palms West Presbyterian
Church has been an answer to our prayers since we first arrived, but now God has chosen to
open a new door of opportunity to serve the greater good of the Kingdom.
I once wrote a sermon based on Luke 6:17-26 called Kingdom Vision. In that passage, Jesus
dropped a series of “bombshells” on the people, hoping to jolt them into serving God’s kingdom
in a new way. In that sermon, I wrote: “When I read and re-read the gospel message, it reminds
me that my job as your pastor isn’t about making everyone happy…my prayer is that Christ’s
word will knock some Kingdom Vision into all our heads so that we might follow and serve him
better.” Kingdom Vision looks beyond the horizon to the future God has in store for us. I believe
we have come to a Kingdom Vision moment. That being the case, Jesus taught us 3 things: 1)
God is with us, so don’t worry; 2) we will sometimes enter into a time of discomfort if we are
being faithful; and 3) we should be absurdly happy about it! Now I know that not all of you will
feel happy about this change thrust upon you by my leaving; nevertheless, I believe God will use
this time to energize the base and prepare you for the next step in God’s wonderful plan.
Although Sheila and I are sad to leave such wonderful people, we are, at the same time happy
about answering God’s call to a new adventure, and we hope the same will be true for you. So,
like Paul, I regret having to write this letter, but then again, I don’t regret it, because through the
godly sorrow we share we will prove ourselves before God.
With deepest affection in the love of Christ,
Pastor Gary and Sheila
Church has been an answer to our prayers since we first arrived, but now God has chosen to
open a new door of opportunity to serve the greater good of the Kingdom.
I once wrote a sermon based on Luke 6:17-26 called Kingdom Vision. In that passage, Jesus
dropped a series of “bombshells” on the people, hoping to jolt them into serving God’s kingdom
in a new way. In that sermon, I wrote: “When I read and re-read the gospel message, it reminds
me that my job as your pastor isn’t about making everyone happy…my prayer is that Christ’s
word will knock some Kingdom Vision into all our heads so that we might follow and serve him
better.” Kingdom Vision looks beyond the horizon to the future God has in store for us. I believe
we have come to a Kingdom Vision moment. That being the case, Jesus taught us 3 things: 1)
God is with us, so don’t worry; 2) we will sometimes enter into a time of discomfort if we are
being faithful; and 3) we should be absurdly happy about it! Now I know that not all of you will
feel happy about this change thrust upon you by my leaving; nevertheless, I believe God will use
this time to energize the base and prepare you for the next step in God’s wonderful plan.
Although Sheila and I are sad to leave such wonderful people, we are, at the same time happy
about answering God’s call to a new adventure, and we hope the same will be true for you. So,
like Paul, I regret having to write this letter, but then again, I don’t regret it, because through the
godly sorrow we share we will prove ourselves before God.
With deepest affection in the love of Christ,
Pastor Gary and Sheila
| REGARDING THE QUESTION, "WHY?" The Reverend Dr. Gary Cecil |
naturally, "Why?" The answer: Gideon's fleece. In Judges 6, Gideon is trying to discern the Lord's will for him
as a leader, so he places a wool fleece on the ground and sets the conditions for a test. If the Lord will act upon
just once, but twice, giving him the confidence to lead the people of Israel as God had appointed.
After nine years of living out God's call to minister in your midst, it was simply time to ask God if this call should
continue or if God had other plans for our future. So Sheila and I, after much prayer, placed our "fleece" before
the Lord, and like Gideon, did so asking God not to be angry but to allow us this time to "test the waters," so to
speak. We were open to either answer, because we have been very happy here. Sheila and I have truly been
blessed by your love and support. We've shared lots of laughter and fun together, and we've seen some tough
time together as well, including 9/11 and three major hurricanes. We will never forget how you reached out to us
during Sheila's broken ankle and breast cancer. PWPC is a wonderful and caring church, so please believe me
when I say that our departure in no way calls that into question. We love you and will miss you, trusting that
God's timing for all this will eventually make sense. In the meantime, we covet your prayers even as we continue
to pray for you. Be patient and support your leadership and the process that is to come. I believe God has good
things in store for you!
Our Reformed tradition has a clearly defined and prayerful process the church has used for centuries to discern
and confirm God's call. It's a process one does not enter into unless one believes the Spirit is at work. I entered
this process believing that God has a plan for PWPC and I needed to know if that plan would continue to include
me. When the steps of call were applied, the answer became clear that God has a new thing in store for your
future. But this should not make you anxious, because God will provide for all our needs according to the riches
of glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)!
There may be other questions or comments about our decision, but I hope this explanation helps in some way.
God's blessings upon you in 2010!
as a leader, so he places a wool fleece on the ground and sets the conditions for a test. If the Lord will act upon
just once, but twice, giving him the confidence to lead the people of Israel as God had appointed.
After nine years of living out God's call to minister in your midst, it was simply time to ask God if this call should
continue or if God had other plans for our future. So Sheila and I, after much prayer, placed our "fleece" before
the Lord, and like Gideon, did so asking God not to be angry but to allow us this time to "test the waters," so to
speak. We were open to either answer, because we have been very happy here. Sheila and I have truly been
blessed by your love and support. We've shared lots of laughter and fun together, and we've seen some tough
time together as well, including 9/11 and three major hurricanes. We will never forget how you reached out to us
during Sheila's broken ankle and breast cancer. PWPC is a wonderful and caring church, so please believe me
when I say that our departure in no way calls that into question. We love you and will miss you, trusting that
God's timing for all this will eventually make sense. In the meantime, we covet your prayers even as we continue
to pray for you. Be patient and support your leadership and the process that is to come. I believe God has good
things in store for you!
Our Reformed tradition has a clearly defined and prayerful process the church has used for centuries to discern
and confirm God's call. It's a process one does not enter into unless one believes the Spirit is at work. I entered
this process believing that God has a plan for PWPC and I needed to know if that plan would continue to include
me. When the steps of call were applied, the answer became clear that God has a new thing in store for your
future. But this should not make you anxious, because God will provide for all our needs according to the riches
of glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)!
There may be other questions or comments about our decision, but I hope this explanation helps in some way.
God's blessings upon you in 2010!