Terry’s Take-Out
Soon you will be officially saying farewell to Pastor Jeff. I am sure there are mixed emotions. Whenever a pastor leaves a parish, there is sadness. There can also be a sense of joy because the Lord has called him to labour elsewhere. In Pastor Jeff’s instance, the Lord has called him to be a “shepherd of the shepherds” as he serves as our beloved bishop. So I still serve under his leadership as an English District emeritus pastor even now… and I count that as a great joy and privilege.
I first met Jeff while I was serving in Kitchener. I think what attracted me to him was that he never had that “affected” pious personality that many clergy, sometimes inadvertently, acquire. He was down-to-earth and relational. And oh, how he was funny! The stories he would spin would have me crying in laughter.
But when I first retired from the parish in Kitchener, my wife and I decided to move to Mississauga to be close to her family. What a blessing it was to have Jeff as my pastor. We had some serious discussions as I dealt with some very personal issues. He always had time to listen and his compassionate advice will be indelibly etched on my soul. We also had some hilariously fun-filled times together, along with Pastor Philip, Pastor Matthias and Pastor Derek when we would meet weekly for check-ins.
Jeff encouraged me to get back into serving God’s people at St. Mark and installed me as one of his helpmates. At St. Mark I met and began to love another of God’s special flocks. I carry with me that love to this day, thank you.
My message to you at St. Mark… I am confident that caring and grace-filled ministry will continue. Jeff has left a permanent stamp on how the love of Christ is to be shared and lived. For that I give thanks to God.
And for my brother Jeff… thank you for the wonderful memories you gave me in ministering to the folks in Mississauga. And… thank you for continuing your service as my bishop. Well done, thou good and faithful servant!