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Effective July 1, our District Superintendent (and your former pastor) Rev. Jon Strother will semi-retire. He will be serving half-time as District Superintendent of the Sound District. We in the Beacon District will welcome Rev. Gina Miller who will serve half-time as District Superintendent and half-time as Pastor of St. John UMC in Avon, NC. Here are letters from both of them:
“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27
It’s hard for me to believe that we have been journeying together for almost one year. My colleague and friend, David Blackman, had his hand on the plow for two years before sharing it with me. Soon, our colleague and friend, Gina Miller, will step up and place her hands on the district plow and, by God’s grace, continue leading all of you on this shared journey forward into God’s preferred future. It reminds me of the wisdom of Proverbs, calling those who would seek to follow God to, “fix your gaze directly before you.”
In, Don’t Look Back, Bishop Will Willimon reminds us of a Texas preacher who received
guiding wisdom from, “…a wise cotton farmer, (who) told him that to plow a straight furrow, the farmer’s eyes must be fixed on a point toward the horizon. If you look back to see how straight you’re plowing, you’re sure to wobble and plow a crooked row.”
By God’s grace, I have sought to keep my my eyes fixed on that horizon, and now I prepare to step aside, as our sister, Gina, takes her place as the fourth person to be named as superintendent of the Beacon District. Thanks to all of you for the loving and patient encouragement you have shared with me as we have journeyed together this year. Great things are now coming into focus because the same God Who holds our hands, helps us to hold on to each other, and goes before us…..
In Christ,
Jon (the Methodist)
“Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he. And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.” Chorus of Lord of the Dance UMH # 261
Grace and peace to you friends and fellow servants of Christ. Let me say, “I love the Beacon District!” I look forward to later sharing with you how the geographical region of the Beacon District has been a part of my life for the past 60 years! I am thrilled with this opportunity to serve among you more closely and to interact with you and your congregations.
I give thanks to Jon for the “Herculean” task he had this past year in serving TWO districts. Well done, friend. You were always available and present when needed, and we give thanks to God for your time among us. Now, the Bishop has asked me to undertake another new paradigm of superintendency by serving part-time at St. John UMC and part-time as DS. Your prayers are appreciated, and please know that I will be leaning on each of you for support.
As I write this message, we are approaching Trinity Sunday, and I am reminded of how The Triune God is perfect community and relationship. The early church described the Trinity as perichoresis – an eternal “Divine Dance” or a “Dance of Love.” The Trinity exemplifies living with one another, leaning on one another, and being there for one another. It is a relationship that words cannot adequately describe, and let’s face it, we are best to admit that God is God, and we are not. Through our baptism, God invites us into this dance. It’s a dance of mystery and grace, modeling the mystery and grace that the Triune God abundantly shares and provides.
I will be leaning on each of you in the days to come, and I appreciate your grace and understanding as I transition to this new role. I trust that the Lord of the Dance will lead us all wherever we may be and will lead us all in the dance. I’ve got my dancing shoes on; how about you?
Gina
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