The minute a pastor accepts a letter of call to serve a congregation, a clock starts ticking that will wind down one day signaling and end and a beginning, both. That time has come for me. I use this congregational mailing to formally announce my resignation as Lead Pastor at Trinity effective the end of January, 2012.

My first thought is that there will never be a place where my talents and abilities were matched better with a people. I thank God for the twelve and half years of ministry we have experienced! How many of us reading this letter can even remember back to the Trinity that existed back in 1999 when you called me to serve as solo pastor? Do you remember the gravel parking lot to the east? Do you remember the names of the volunteers who jumped at the chance to sew flags that would fly on Sunday mornings outside our church? Do you remember the writing of a grant that allowed us to invite Tom and Judy Stadem and family to move to Tea and become a part of the formation of our “All are Welcome,” music-driven, family focused congregation?

 We will have time in the coming weeks to do a lot of reminiscing. To think back and remember the good and to promise to learn from what could have gone better is all part of a fully- lived goodbye. I really need to find a variety of ways to tell you how much my life will forever be marked by our work together. I will never have a more fulfilling set of years in my life. I need and have begun to grieve leaving. I also want to celebrate the possibilities for myself, yes, but especially for this congregation as we have come so far in a decade of faith building.

 It is time for me to go so that someone else can lead. My heart tells me that I have given my best to Trinity. I know, too, that I am by nature a creative, “rev things up” starter type person (don’t try and change me now!). I am sure that God will lift up for Trinity through the call process a Lead Pastor who will bring a new and importantly different set of skills to offer to the ministry challenges and opportunities at hand.

 It’s time for me to go on to the next thing: to serve at the National Campus of the Good Samaritan Society (Sioux Falls) on their newly formed Innovation Team. This group of people will be working to create new forms of care giving within the century old mission statement—“That in Christ, Everyone is Someone”--that has guided the Society’s work especially with the elderly but also those of all ages needing special care. I am humbled by the invitation to work with the Good Samaritan Society and ask for your prayers of support upon my leaving.

 All of this means that Nancy and I will not be moving from our home. We will happily remain in the Tea area as this new chapter in our lives unfolds. This, however, will require some real maturity on my part and yours. On my part—I will need to be gone from Trinity quite completely…to stay away…to not interfere. I must not walk the hallways and muddy the 

waters with the new ministry staff taking shape. New lines of communication must develop and a former pastor even just walking around is a real problem. So let me say it now and in the coming weeks as clearly as I can: it is because I love Trinity that I will not come back to conduct baptisms, marry couples, or to officiate at a funeral. I will not listen to conversations about what is going right or wrong. I will worship elsewhere.

 For Trinity, the mature thing will be to join in this January month of saying goodbye. Take the time to look back over the past twelve years and learn from this time of reflection. There are so many things to be thankful for! But may you also be honest enough to speak of things now, in advance of the 2012 call process, that weren’t given good attention…that could have gone better, that you think are lacking.

 As well, this is a time for this strong church to rise to this moment and be supportive of Pastors Wayne, Ron and Tom. There are many pieces of the weekly ministry scene with which lay members can powerfully help.

 It is time for me to go. I trust that God is again leading me on to work that will be good and blessed. It has always been so. I also trust that this change will be good for Trinity as well. I already find myself praying for the staff who will gracefully “carry the load” into the summer as well as this beautiful, young and capable congregation that keeps growing into its daily purpose.

 I do hope to have a chance to have a quick word of goodbye with most households. My remaining weeks will be spent being supportive of the staff as a winter to summer administrative plan is put into place; working with the church council in making sure that the congregational records are in order; packing an office; and writing two more sermons to share with you.

 Thanking God that we are “kept” in our journeys.

 Pastor Greg Johnson