Goodbye Graphical sermon notes by, Rev. Ed Whitman Sunday, June 21, 2015 Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable Massachusetts © Copyright 2015 by the author, Rev. Ed Whitman, with permission to freely redistribute.

Thanks for Everything

Titus 3: As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.

Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

Philippians 1: 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

“Good-byes” are not easy

“Good-byes” are not easy

“Good-byes” are not easy Emily Dickinson: “Parting is all we need of hell …” Arthur Schopenhauer: “Every parting gives a foretaste of death …”

Titus - A.D. 64  Assistant pastor with the Apostle Paul  Part of Paul’s missionary team for 20 years  Ministering in Crete when letter arrives

Titus - A.D. 64  Purposes of letter: 1.Further instructions to equip church leaders Living God-honoring lives in church life, at home and in the world around you

Titus - A.D. 64  Purposes of letter: 1.Further instructions to equip church leaders Living God-honoring lives in church life, at home and in the world around you 2. Personal future plans for Titus himself - a new assignment

Let’s Pray

Future Plans (1) As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.verse 12  Sending someone to take your place

Future Plans (1) As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.verse 12 -Tychicus goes to Ephesus, not Crete -Artemas comes to Crete GOD MOVES HIS PEOPLE AROUND

Sending You a New Pastor

Future Plans (2) As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. verse 12 Paul: “Winter in Nicopolis with Titus”

Pastor Ed and Sandy – “A little Rest and…” Raymond, NH Summer House and yard projects Relaxing with family, good books and Red Sox

July Fall-Winter Rochester, NY Volunteer Work -CCCC -JRHS -Meeting with Pastors -Further Travel Adventures? -More house and yard projects

Final Reminder Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. verse 14 Support God’s WORK and WORKERS

Final Reminder “Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. verse 13 - Zenas, probably an expert in Roman culture teamed up with - Apollos, an eloquent Greek preacher, as traveling missionary evangelists Assistance with Housing, Supplies and Finances

Final Reminder Do everything you can to help … see that they have everything they need … provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. Titus 3: Do everything you can to help … See that they have everything they need … Provide for their daily necessities … so that they may live productive lives.

Personal Matters: 1 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love you in the faith. verse 15a

Personal Matters: 2 My Personal Prayer - Wish for DECC: And this is my prayer: That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. Philippians 1:9 New Living Translation: I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.

THE SERVANT SONG Brother, sister, let me be your servant Let me be as Christ to you Pray that I might have the grace To let you be my servant too

We are pilgrims on a journey We're together on this road We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load

I will hold the Christ-light for you In the night time of your fear I will hold my hand out to you Speak the peace you long to hear

I will weep when you are weeping When you laugh I'll laugh with you I will share your joy and sorrow Till we've seen this journey through

When we sing to God in heaven We shall find such harmony Born of all we've known together Of Christ's love and agony

Brother sister let me serve you Let me be as Christ to you Pray that I may have the grace To let you be my servant too Richard Gillard© 1977 Scripture In Song; Maranatha! Music

Personal Matters: 3 Grace be with you all. verse 15b  Comes from the Father (1:4)  Evidenced in Jesus (2:11)  Means of our salvation (3:7)  Blessing upon all members of the Dunstable Church

“Good-byes” are not easy Arthur Schopenhauer: “Every parting gives a foretaste of death … and every coming together again a foretaste of the resurrection” Emily Dickinson: “Parting is all we know of heaven … and all we need of hell.”

“Good-byes” are not easy Saying good-byes can be a joyful matter

“Good-byes” are not easy Saying good-byes can be a joyful matter “Good-bye” = “God-Be-With-You”

1772 Pastor John Fawcett

1772 Pastor John Fawcett Wainsgate, England

“Gifted scholar, devoted pastor and inspired preacher”

“Brotherly Love”

CLOSURE LITURGY Deacon: A church family is constantly changing: loved ones come to the end of their lives; individuals come and go in the life of our church together. It is important and right that we recognize these times of passage, of endings and beginnings. Today we share in saying fond farewells with Rev. Edward A. Whitman, whose time as our Intentional Interim Pastor is concluding.

Pastor Ed: I thank DECC, its members and friends, for the love, kindness, and support shown me these last 18 months. I ask your understanding and forgiveness for mistakes I have made and for expectations unmet. I am grateful that my leadership has been accepted. With joy I recall the things we have been able to accomplish together, and with some sadness some which were not accomplished. As I leave, I carry with me many happy memories of experiences we have shared together.

PEOPLE: We receive your thankfulness, and we offer our forgiveness for any failures, and our thanks for all that has been accomplished. We accept that you now leave us to minister elsewhere. We express our gratitude for your time among us and ask your forgiveness for our shortcomings and mistakes. Your influence on our lives will not leave us at your departure.

Pastor Ed: I forgive you and accept your gratitude, trusting that our time together and our parting are pleasing to God and our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we are called to serve. Deacon: Do you, the members and friends of DECC now release Pastor Ed from the responsibilities of Intentional Interim Pastor? PEOPLE: We do, with the help of God.

Deacon: Do you, Edward Whitman release this church from turning to you and depending on you? Pastor Ed: I do, with the help of God. Deacon: Do you offer your encouragement for, and your blessing on the continued ministry of this church? Pastor Ed: I do, with the help of God.

Deacon: Let us pray the following prayer together in unison. ALL: Heavenly Father, whose everlasting love for your children is trustworthy, we give you thanks for remembered times with Pastor Ed and Sandy, as together we have shared our life of faith in Jesus.

ALL (cont): We thank you for the times we have shared in worship, in times of fellowship, in leadership and committee meetings, and in service together. We thank you for all that was accomplished for the glory of God. The time we were together in your name saw some tears, but also our laughter; some disappointments, but also our hopes and joy. Help each of us trust the future, which rests in your watch-care.

ALL (cont): Guide us, Lord God, as we hold these memories, but now move in new directions -- until that time to come when we are completely one with you, and with one another. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. PEOPLE: Pastor Ed and Sandy, go now, surrounded by our love, and led by the presence of our Lord Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like that to that above. Before our Father's throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart, And hope to meet again. John Fawcett, 1782Johann G. Nageli,