Jerad and I first want to say a HUGE word of thanks for the RUMC baby shower held the evening of January 24, 2010 (you might remember the night - the Vikes missed going to the Superbowl by a field goal in overtime the same evening).  We were overwhelmed by your generosity!  Know that we went away feeling nothing but gratitude for not only the gifts, but also and especially the wonderful folks we've been blessed to know and work alongside for the last 3 ½ years here.  Special thanks to Nicole Pazandak for organizing, decorating, and melting candy bars into diapers for the first game J.  It was a lot of fun with wonderful food and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit gathering us together, and I marvel at the giving spirits in each of you.  We are truly blessed.

 On to upcoming events. . .

 February finds us with 8 ½ weeks left of life together as a congregation.  As we get closer, the work speeds up: we have a fellowship meal at Brooklyn UMC on February 7^th right after worship.  Divestment committee will attend to bids for items in the sanctuary and the offices on Sunday, February 21, and many of our smaller items/knickknacks will be available for the final time at our Homecoming Celebration on March 7 (we will be having a silent auction during our breakfast that morning).  I will see many of you for the last time one-on-one by the end of this month, as well.  Finally, we will begin our final Lenten journey together, although I will not finish the journey with you - my maternity leave begins, barring an early labor, April 1, and you will complete the journey with Easter at Brooklyn UMC on April 4.  The African UMC will be joining you at Brooklyn on May 2.

 A couple of words regarding my relationship to the good folks of Riverview once we've "closed" at the end of March:  in the United Methodist tradition, we clergy take our "leaving" as at least as important as our "coming".  Therefore, as difficult as it will be for you and for me, I will no longer be available for pastoral care beginning in April.  Even if you are still unsure as to what your plans are after Riverview discontinues, the pastoral staff at Brooklyn UMC will be available to you for any emergencies that come up, and there is no one better for that than Rev. Marilyn Evans and the Brooklyn parish nurse, Fran Davis.  I give thanks that I know they will take absolutely wonderful care of you when I leave. 

 Also, many of you have indicated a desire to see the baby.  Especially given how wonderfully supportive you have been during this whole pregnancy, I share that desire!!!  You have journeyed with us during these last nine months, so we would love to have each and every one of you over to see our latest addition to the family.  However, in order to be both fair to everyone and appropriate regarding the new boundaries I need to keep as the "leaving" pastor, what we'll do is have a baptismal party once I come off maternity leave where ALL the RUMC family will be invited to meet their new brother/sister in the family of God.  So look for an invite in the mail sometime in June with more details about that.     

 I hope this answers some of the questions you've had about what our new relationship will look like.  For those of you going to Brooklyn UMC, we'll run into each other from time to time because Brooklyn is also hosting the new church start to which I will be appointed July 1, 2010 (I may even preach for Marilyn a few times, so lay in your store of rotten tomatoes now!).  For those of you heading elsewhere, you will forever be in my heart and prayers, and I will always give thanks for the time we shared in ministry at Riverview UMC. 

 Finally, when you see a member of our Leadership Team, please say, "Thank you!" and give them a big hug for the amount of work they have already put into the work of closing well.  For the purpose of selling the building and for maternity leave, RUMC will still have some closing administrative operations between April and the end of June; the Leadership Team will bear the responsibility for most of that.  Chairperson Char Jebens will be the primary contact for all things "Riverview" related during those 3 months.  To say that we have fabulous lay leadership for our congregation is a huge understatement - I count myself as very, VERY fortunate to have worked with all of you who have been in leadership during my tenure at Riverview.  

 This is not "good bye" just yet (we have one more Circuit Writer that will be issued the first Sunday in March), but it is preparing our hearts and minds for the day when it will be.  The good news is that our Lenten journey will lead us through not only the passion and death of Jesus, but also into the empty tomb of resurrection. 

 May resurrection surprise us with new life, new opportunities for faith and service, and new people with whom to be in ministry.