To The Congregation of First Presbyterian Church, Virginia City:
After much prayer and discernment over the past several months, I have made the decision to retire from active ministry. After speaking with the session at our meeting yesterday, we determined that I will continue as your pastor through the month of April (to include Easter). While my contract specifies only a month notice, it is my hope that more time will aid in a smooth transition.
My decision to retire now instead of later is based on family and personal considerations, and in no way reflects upon this wonderful church family I have come to love here in Virginia City. I am choosing to retire now while I still have the health to enjoy an active retirement. I want to resume my running and participate in the race events that happen mostly on Sundays. I would like to travel and not be tied down on the weekends. With two of my three children living out-of-state (the oldest getting married this summer), I would like the opportunity to spend more time with them while I can. And mostly, I am just preached out. Writing sermons has become more and more of a chore. I am finding it very stressful and draining coming up with new content every week.
I am proud of the progress we have made together in my time with you. We now not only have internet access in the building, but we have been able to meet the challenges of the pandemic utilizing and expanding on that technology. We have a social media and website presence. We have weathered the pandemic with resourcefulness and grace. We have increased our presence in the community with our music events and with our contributions to the Community Chest. We have provided mission support to needs and disasters locally, nationally, and internationally. We have laughed together, cried together, and prayed together. I have been blessed by all of your efforts to be the hands and feet and heart of Christ in our world.
Please be assured that the Presbytery will be present and available to support and assist you throughout this transition period as you seek to discern where God is leading you next. Please know that I have come to love each and every one of you dearly and will miss being with you on Sundays and in between (but I will continue to be in the area!). Know too that I will continue to keep the church and each of you close to my heart in prayer.
With God’s love and mine,
Blessings,
~ “Rev. Sue”
