I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I have accepted a new call, and as of August 1, 2013, I will be the new Designated Associate Pastor at Winnetka Presbyterian Church (new website will be unveiled in a few months) in Winnetka, Illinois. Winnetka is one of the North Shore suburbs, about 20 miles north of downtown Chicago.
Sarah and I would never have thought about moving to Chicago, or the Midwest in general, but through conversations with the committee, folks at the church, the senior pastor, and hearing about the amazing ministry of WPC, it was pretty clear that God was involved in this whole process, and we are moving to a place that is going to have some great opportunities for me, Sarah and for Caleb.
Winnetka Presbyterian Church is located up in the North Shore, and began in 1955. Rev. Lloyd Ogilvie was the pastor of the church from 1956-1962, although it’s safe to say that the church has made some big shifts theologically since he was the pastor. It has a very active missions program, with mission partnerships in Cuba and Romania and around the states, and is a church poised for some exciting new things. The church has a ton of young families and a lot of young kids, quite a few that are Caleb’s age, and so it’s exciting that he’ll have a place to grow up surrounding by a great community of children and youth.
We’ve been out in Chicago this week; I preached here this past Sunday and the congregation voted on my position, and we have been shown amazing hospitality by the wonderful people who are a part of the WPC community. We are close to finding a rental house in the area, and things are starting to come together.
There are exciting things happening in Chicago Presbytery right now, and I was especially thrilled when I saw this tweet from Jan Edmiston:
Pending last approvals, #ChiPres has 10 pastors under 35 joining us this summer. #tbtg
— Jan Edmiston (@jledmiston) June 6, 2013
We will miss our friends in Ashland, and I am grateful for the wonderful ministry opportunities I had at the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland. I was given a lot of freedom to try new things (e.g. Theology Pub, the Ashland Youth Collective, bringing Jennifer Knapp to Ashland, and much more) and was able to have a better sense of what areas of ministry I feel most called to.
I just wanted to share with you a few photos from our time here the past few days:
Here is the congregation after the unanimous vote to call me as their Designated Associate Pastor.
Some of the women who were involved in getting the cake for the reception.
The cake.
I seem to have a connection with A-frame churches. All three of the Presbyterian churches I’ve worked at were A-frames…all probably built around the 1960s…so that must have something to do with it.
This is the front entrance to the church.
Finally, these were some of the youth who came out to a pizza party this past weekend. It is a wonderful group of students, and I’m really looking forward to working with them.
My installation at WPC is tentatively set for September 22, and so if you are around the area, it’d be fun to have you come and join us for the service. I will be sure and share more details as they become available.