Richmond Congregational Church


	Richmond Congregational Church United Church of Christ P.O. Box 302 Richmond VT, 05477 (802) 434-2053	Pastor: Rev. Dr. Barbara deB.Allen Purinton

From the Pastor, “There are many parts, but one body…if one member suffers, we all suffer together; if one member is honored, we all rejoice together…Now you are the Body of Christ" (I Corinthians 12:12-27) Dear Members and Friends of RCC: We enter an in-between time as my time with you as your pastor comes to a close. It is a significant change for all of us as we have shared joys and sorrows, life transitions and daily life together for almost 19 years. As the Scripture notes, we are all interdependent members of the Body of Christ. When one member leaves the whole body needs to adjust. It has often been noted that the Chinese characters for “Crisis” mean both danger and opportunity. An interim time in a church is the beginning of a critical transition, an opportunity to change. Transitions can be the greatest periods of growth for an individual or a community. William Bridges (Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, The Way of Transition), refers to the flow of change and growth in transition. He observes that once we have an ending, before we can have a true beginning, we need to spend some time in what he calls “the neutral zone.” This time, in a church, is the interim time between settled pastors. The work that one does in this time is essential so that one is able to let go of what has ended and be free to move into the new beginning, whatever that may be. Transition is a time of deep work. Someone described the celebration of April 13 as a time for people to speak, “just like at a funeral.” Except that I got to hear what you had to say! Indeed, to acknowledge that something is ending is the only way to be able to make space for the healing and letting go. You have shared your wonderful words of thanks to me for sharing the amazing journeys of life and death with you, and these experiences area part of us, the people we have become in relationship to each other. That will not end. Yet the role that I have assumed as pastor will now be taken up by someone else. And transition is the time we need to make new space for this to happen. It is also important for me so that I can be free to focus on my new work. Your call is to take time to think about how the church will continue to be the place in which you honor and remember your life experiences as this relationship of pastor and people comes to an end. Then you will take time to ask yourselves who you are as the people of the Richmond Congregational Church. What things need healing and forgiveness, what are the hopes and dreams you have for the church and for the next settled pastor? But don’t hurry! The interim time is the time to reflect, to talk and to pray. It is that neutral zone where you will make space between who I have been as your spiritual leader and who you will call to journey with you next. It is time to listen to each other, to pray together, to practice God’s presence in all that you do together as the Body of Christ. There are really no words to summarize the journey we have shared. Our children have grown up here. Our granddaughter was born here. In so many ways Richmond will be remembered as home. And for this we are immensely grateful. My prayer for all of you is that you may move intentionally through this time of transition, trusting that the God who called us into relationship, who journeys with all of us throughout our lives on earth, will continue to guide you into the new beginning that awaits you as the disciples of Jesus who live and grow in the Richmond Congregational Church. May God bless you all, now and forever. Barbara