Webster Word

A Message From Your Pastor

Dear Webster Family,

By the time you read this letter, we will be all together celebrating my ten years of ministry with you. I feel very blessed to be able to have served God and God’s church for a good length of time.

I remember when I heard you were looking for a new pastor, in October of 1997. I was working as a nurse case manager for home care and hospice at that time, and I had been ordained as a hospice chaplain about two years earlier.

I knew it was time to come “home” to Havre de Grace, where I was born and where I graduated from Havre de Grace High School. I knew too, that my parents were getting older, and they may need me to be closer to them. I had been away from home for 13 years, and I missed them as well as my son Jerry and his family.

In the third week of November, my son Jerry came and out to drive me home. We packed up my golden retriever “Teddy”, and the canary, “Sunny Boy” and headed for San Diego to visit my daughter Pam for a couple of days before we set out for home.

We began our trek across the country in the Ford Explorer, the week before Thanksgiving. We listened to lots of “country” music and we had some really good talks. It took us about six days, driving, mostly on Route 66. We visited the Grand Canyon, for a few minutes, took pictures and went on our way again. We stopped along the way and enjoyed the hospitality of the local folks and took Teddy out on runs in the evening before dinner. Jerry says the highlight of the trip was when we came over the crest of a mountain at dusk, after having driven in the parched, empty desert all day, and suddenly the most beautiful sight appeared. It was the city of Albuquerque, all lit up and it looked quite welcoming to us. We stayed in town that night, at Motel 6 because they permitted animals, and they “left the light on for us.”

Every morning, (Jerry always woke up early) and he warmed up the car for the bird, packed us all up and off we went for another day of adventure. We made it home on the last Sunday of November, just in time for Thanksgiving with the family.

On February 8, 1998, I candidated at Protestant Community UCC, where Rev. Glenn Rogers mentored me for the pastorate at Webster. On March 1, 1998, you welcomed me as your pastor, and I moved into the parsonage, and I have lived and worked here ever since then. I have enjoyed living here, even though it’s “right next door to the church” and it tends to get hectic at times, still, it’s very nice to have such a short commute to work. I tend to be on time for worship, meetings, children’s parties, and all the wonderful times we have together at the church.

So, here we are, ten years later and we continue to celebrate God’s power and presence in the life of the church. On February 17 th, we baptized Shawna Ashman and her children William and Margaret. We also invited Shawna Ashman, Jo Mitchell and Nancy Alexander into membership. Thanks to the Outreach Committee, we all enjoyed a reception to welcome our new members and the newly baptized children.

Since March of 1998, fifty-two new Christian disciples were baptized. I had hoped to welcome around fifty new disciples in ten years, and we were all surprised when the little Ashman’s, William and Margaret made a decision to come to Christ in the sacrament of baptism with their mother. I am very happy for them and their decision to come to the font with Shawna.

We welcome new families in worship and in our many activities, and we are often pleasantly surprised when young couples invite many of their neighbors to church. It is the best feeling to see the pews full of happy faces and all of the children who come up front for their special time. They are always eager to share their good ideas and experiences with the congregation, and everyone looks forward to welcoming them and listening to what they have to share. Whether the children are overheard singing downstairs in Sunday school, or whether they have something to say to us in the sanctuary, we always love to hear their voices echoing throughout the church. They are the future of the church, and we are blessed with their presence.

I hope you will be able to join us for the celebration on Sunday, March 2 nd, and I look forward to reminiscing with you both for the good times and the trying times, where we were able, with the grace of God, to overcome any odds and grow and prosper together as the family of Jesus Christ.

May God bless you and give you good health and happiness.

Love in Christ,

Pastor Lonna