April 2008

Dear Mulberry Street United Methodist Friends,

Well, my six months with you is nearly over. Actually, when Rev. Larry Hukill, Three Rivers District Superintendent, invited me in September to be your interim pastor, the time period was to be three months, until the first of the year. I was so enjoying the church that in November, I said, “I’m fine with six months.” This brings us to the Sunday following Easter.

From my view of things, it has been a good and fast ride, more eventful for me than I anticipated. I was not planning on a heart catherization and two stents on January 4, but such things come to all of us. Life is what happens when you were planning to do something else. I am grateful for your prayers and support during that brief hospitalization and recuperation period.

It was fun to help plan for, and celebrate, your 175th anniversary of service and ministry in Mount Vernon, 1832-2007.

With the creative skills and persistence of Yvonne Clutter we reviewed the coming of the Messiah, beginning with Genesis, complete with the appearance of Mary and her infant son on Christmas Eve.

We have seen the music program, under the direction of Elizabeth Boskovich, rise to new life with the children and youth leading the Palm Sunday service and then the Liturgical Dance team, the Praise Team and Adult Choir presented a powerful Easter service, “Praise the God of Resurrection.”

I will pass on the baton to your friend and mine, the Rev. Bill Norman, who will assume the position of Interim Pastor, effective April 1, 2008. I leave you in good hands these three months before the arrival of your new full-time pastor, the Rev. Warren Outhwaite and his wife, Betsy and their daughter, Abigail.

The church has recently acquired a new parsonage at 1104 Beech Street, a lovely house that the Outhwaites have visited.

There are many strengths at MSUMC, which have even increased in this interim period.

There is strong and deep lay leadership. I have especially enjoyed working with Phil Boyette and John Hood, who are serving as your Lay Leaders with specific responsibility for leading in worship at 9 and 11 a.m.

There is a fine outreach to the Mt. Vernon community through the Wagon Ministry and the Pier Group, directed by Matt Diffenderfer.

You have a vital youth ministry with Mike and Robin McKinley providing enthusiastic leadership.

There are several small groups for study and sharing.

You have fine facilities, which are well cared for.

My wife worshipped with us Maundy Thursday and she commented to me how “warm and inviting” the sanctuary is, or as someone on the Hospitality Survey said, “The Spirit of the Lord is here.”

A concern, which I share with your finance team, is that of the tithes and offerings being adequate to cover your expenses, especially with the coming of a full-time pastor. As Interim Pastor, perhaps I did not address this issue as forthrightly as if I was the full-time pastor. In churches I have served, if we did not meet the budget, we did not have a financial problem, we had a spiritual problem. A church with a strong financial base is a spiritually sound church and a spiritually sound church has a strong financial base. We give with generosity because we have received much and continue to receive “grace upon grace.” Mulberry Street UMC should not have financial problems.

Several have asked what I am going to do now that I am stepping aside as your Interim Pastor. Well, for one thing there is a wedding to perform in North Carolina. Soon I will begin preparing for my position this summer as Co-Director of Religious Life at Lakeside. I am grateful for these and other opportunities for service and ministry.

Blessings on all of you.

Grateful to have served as your Interim Pastor,

Irwin E. Jennings