Dear Members and Friends,
After over 30 years of ministry at the Community Presbyterian Church here in Brigantine, Annie and I have decided it’s time for us to enjoy retirement together… because our family is growing and we want to spend time with our marvelous grandchildren! It's time to let someone who is younger and more energetic have the honor and privilege of being your pastor as well. We have set our last Sunday as October 3rd, 2021, World Wide Communion! A transition team has been elected by the Session to help manage this process of “letting go” and to begin to plan for what comes next for Presbyterians here in Brigantine. Please know that the Presbytery stands close by to help with the process of calling an Interim Pastor, then working on a Church Mission Study and eventually initiating the work for calling a new Pastor. I hope you will all look at this as an opportunity to grow in our faith in Christ as a congregation and deepen our commitment to Christian service in the community and world in which we have journeyed together these past three decades. In the meantime, we need to re-energize our life as a worshipping congregation and I hope to see many of you in the pews over the summer!
The Book of Order states in G-2.0905 “After the dissolution of the pastoral relationship, former pastors shall not provide their pastoral services to members of their former congregations without the invitation of the moderator of session.” That means I cannot come back and perform pastoral services without the express written request of the Moderator and Session. So, while I am happy to relate to you as a friend, I will not be available in a role as Pastor.
I am sure we will have time to answer questions and concerns as the Summer goes on. In the meantime, please make sure you come to Sunday Worship at either 8:00 AM or 10:15 AM. It’s time to celebrate the end of the Pandemic and return to a more vibrant and enthusiastic presence as a congregation called to be in mission in God’s world! May the Holy Spirit be our guide!
Please join us LIVE on Sunday Mornings at 8:00 AM and/or 10:00 AM for singing, and 10:15 AM for worship. Use this link www.facebook.com/brigchurch.org. If you haven’t joined us for “virtual worship”, give me a call - you need to join us! The CHURCH WEBSITE is www.brigchurch.org. My email is jrscotland@aol.com. My cell phone is (609) 457-2999.
