Goodbye - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

GoodbyeGraphical sermon notes by,Rev. Ed Whitman

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable Massachusetts

© Copyright

2015

by the

author

, Rev. Ed Whitman

, with

permission to freely redistribute.Slide2

Thanks for EverythingSlide3

Titus 3: 12-15 As soon as I send

Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.Slide4

Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. Slide5

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.Slide6

Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.Slide7

Philippians 1: 9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,Slide8

“Good-byes” are

not easySlide9

“Good-byes”

arenot

easySlide10

“Good-byes” are not easy

Emily Dickinson:“Parting is all we need of hell …”

Arthur Schopenhauer:“Every parting gives a foretaste of death …”Slide11

Titus - A.D. 64

Assistant pastor with the Apostle PaulPart of Paul’s missionary team for 20 years

Ministering in Crete when letter arrivesSlide12

Titus - A.D. 64Purposes of letter:

Further instructions to equip church leadersLiving God-honoring lives in c

hurch life, at home and in the world around youSlide13

Titus - A.D. 64Purposes of letter:

Further instructions to equip church leadersLiving God-honoring lives

in church life, at home and in the world around you2.

Personal future plans for Titus himself - a new assignmentSlide14

Let’s PraySlide15

Future Plans (1)As soon as I send Artemas

or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to

winter there. verse 12Sending someone to take your placeSlide16

Future Plans (1)As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus

to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. verse 12

- Tychicus goes to Ephesus, not Crete- Artemas comes to Crete

GOD MOVES HIS PEOPLE AROUNDSlide17

Sending You a New PastorSlide18

Future Plans (2)

As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. verse 12

Paul: “Winter in Nicopolis with Titus”Slide19

Pastor Ed and Sandy – “A little Rest and…”

Raymond, NHSummer

House and yard projects

Relaxing with family, good books and Red SoxSlide20

July 20 -23 Fall-Winter Rochester, NY

Volunteer Work

-CCCC-JRHS-Meeting with Pastors-Further Travel Adventures?-More house and yard projectsSlide21

Final Reminder

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and

not live unproductive lives. verse 14Support God’s WORK

and WORKERS Slide22

Final Reminder

“Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and

Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. verse 13

- Zenas, probably an expert in Roman culture teamed up with- Apollos,

an eloquent Greek preacher, as traveling missionary evangelistsAssistance with Housing, Supplies and FinancesSlide23

Final Reminder

Do everything you can to help … see that they have everything they need … provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. Titus 3: 13-14Do everything you can to help … See that they have everything they need … Provide for their daily necessities … so that they may live productive lives.Slide24

Personal Matters: 1 Everyone with me sends you greetings.Greet those who love you in the faith.

verse 15a Slide25

Personal Matters: 2My Personal Prayer - Wish for DECC:

And this is my prayer: That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. Philippians 1:9New Living Translation:

I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.Slide26

THE SERVANT SONGBrother

, sister, let me be your servantLet me be as Christ to youPray that I might have the graceTo let you be my servant tooSlide27

We are pilgrims on a journeyWe're together on this road

We are here to help each otherWalk the mile and bear the loadSlide28

I will hold the Christ-light for youIn the night time of your fearI will hold my hand out to you

Speak the peace you long to hearSlide29

I will weep when you are weepingWhen you laugh I'll laugh with youI will share your joy and sorrow

Till we've seen this journey throughSlide30

When we sing to God in heavenWe shall find such harmonyBorn of all we've known together

Of Christ's love and agonySlide31

Brother sister let me serve youLet me be as Christ to youPray that I may have the grace

To let you be my servant too

Richard Gillard © 1977 Scripture In Song; Maranatha! MusicSlide32

Personal Matters: 3Grace be with you all. verse 15b

Comes from the Father (1:4)Evidenced in Jesus (2:11)

Means of our salvation (3:7) Blessing upon all members of

the Dunstable Church Slide33

“Good-byes” are not easy

Arthur Schopenhauer:“Every parting gives a foretaste of death …and every coming together again

aforetaste of the resurrection”

Emily Dickinson:“Parting is all we know of heaven …

and all we need of hell.”Slide34

“Good-byes” are not easy

Saying good-byes can be a joyful matterSlide35

“Good-byes” are not easy

Saying good-byes can be a joyful matter“Good-bye” =

“God-Be-With-You”Slide36

1772Pastor John FawcettSlide37

1772Pastor John Fawcett

Wainsgate, EnglandSlide38

“Gifted scholar, devoted pastor and inspired preacher”Slide39

“Brotherly Love” Slide40

CLOSURE LITURGY

Deacon: A

church family is constantly changing: loved ones come to the end of their lives; individuals come and go in the life of our church together

. It is important and right that we recognize these times of passage, of endings and beginnings.

Today we share

in saying fond farewells

with Rev. Edward A.

Whitman,

whose time as our Intentional Interim Pastor is concluding.Slide41

Pastor Ed:

I thank DECC,

its members and friends, for the love, kindness, and support shown me these last 18 months. I ask your understanding and forgiveness for mistakes I have made and for expectations unmet

. I am grateful that my leadership has been accepted. With

joy I recall the things we have been able to accomplish together, and with some sadness some which were not accomplished. As I leave, I carry with me many happy memories of experiences we have shared together.Slide42

PEOPLE: We receive your thankfulness, and we offer our forgiveness for any failures, and our thanks for all that has been accomplished.

We accept that you now leave us to minister elsewhere. We express our gratitude for your time among us and ask your forgiveness for our shortcomings and mistakes. Your

influence on our lives will not leave us at your departure.Slide43

Pastor Ed:

I forgive you and accept your gratitude, trusting that our time together and our parting are pleasing to God and our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we are called to serve.

Deacon: Do you, the members and friends of DECC

now release Pastor Ed from the responsibilities of Intentional Interim Pastor?PEOPLE: We do, with the help of God.Slide44

Deacon:

Do you, Edward Whitman release this church from turning to you and depending on

you?Pastor

Ed: I

do, with the help of God.

Deacon

:

Do

you offer your encouragement

for, and your

blessing on the

continued ministry of this church?

Pastor Ed

:

I do, with the help of God

.Slide45

Deacon:

Let us pray the following prayer together in unison.

ALL: Heavenly Father, whose everlasting love for your children is trustworthy, we give you thanks for remembered times with Pastor Ed and Sandy, as together we have shared our life of faith in Jesus.Slide46

ALL (cont): We thank you for the times we have shared in worship, in times of fellowship, in leadership and committee meetings, and in service together. We thank you for all that was accomplished for the glory of God.

The time we were together in your name saw some tears, but also our laughter; some disappointments, but also our hopes and joy. Help each of us trust the future, which rests in your watch-care. Slide47

ALL (cont): Guide

us, Lord God, as we hold these memories, but now move in new directions -- until that time to come when we are completely one with you, and with one another. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.PEOPLE

: Pastor Ed and Sandy, go now, surrounded by our love, and led by the presence of our Lord Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Amen.Slide48

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDSBlest

be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like that to that above.Before our Father's throne

We pour our ardent prayers;Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one Our comforts and our cares.Slide49

We share our mutual

woes,Our mutual burdens bear;And often for each other flows

The sympathizing tear.When we asunder part,It gives us inward pain;

But we shall still be joined in heart,And hope to meet again.

John Fawcett, 1782 Johann G. Nageli, 1773-1836