New Church Family

   Like many other United Methodist pastors, on July 1, Carol and I left Highland, IL after being appointed to a new church. For 14 years I served as pastor of Highland Hope. UMC. One of the hardest part of moving was leaving our daughter, son, daughter-in-law and our three precious grand daughters!
   The people at Tremont UMC greeted us warmly and made the move much easier! We can't say enough about the way they have received us and are responding to my preaching.
    I think it's usually hardest on our spouses when we are moved, but the women of Tremont UMC have warmly embraced Carol and made the move easier.
    I look forward to a long and successful ministry at Tremont UMC!
    God IS Good ALL the time!

SAYING GOODBYE!

To our Highland Hope family,

Sunday, Carol and I served communion to our Highland Hope family for the last time. Thank you for such a wonderful service this past Sunday and for the past 14 years. I’m not very good at goodbyes. I tend to want to eat one more dinner (you gotta eat), give one more hug, sing one more song, etc. 
Carol and I want you all to know how much we love you. We have been honored and humbled to be your pastor family for these past fourteen years. We’ve successfully navigated some wonderful changes in these years:

• moved into a $1.2 multi-purpose building
• our worship attendance has more than tripled
• our staff has grown to meet the needs
• we worked on our organizational/leadership structure
• we started a Saturday night service
• we've given young people an opportunity to use their gifts to glorify God
• and much, much, much more.

And with all the changes, I'm aware there were several levels of excitement, fear, understanding, misunderstanding, and yet we are still loving, growing, and moving ahead! We’ve laughed together and cried together. We’ve asked for forgiveness and forgiven one another. We’ve done life together! We’ve consistently moved ahead, sometimes stumbling and sometimes running. Sometimes we went too slow and sometimes we went too fast. But I realize we’ve been shaped by one another… you by me and me by you.

Thanks for the wonderful friends we've developed. Thanks for teaching me some great lessons. Thanks for allowing me the honor and privilege of being called your pastor!

As Carol and I prepare to say “goodbye” I'm reminded of the words of the apostle Paul found in Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

God has called us to a new phase of ministry and we must go, but knowledge that we're answering God’s call does not make our leaving any easier. So, to our church family, Carol and I thank you for the deep friendships and for all the memories. We will carry you all in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

Your servants in Christ,
Pastor Dan & Carol Perry