This coming Sunday, in prayers of thanksgiving during worship and at Cafe in the Court following, we will pause and give thanks for the ministry of Dick Wohlschlaeger as our Interim Associate for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults.
Many have been blessed by Dick’s caring pastoral presence in seasons of grief or illness, at unexpected turns of events, and in moments of joy. All of us have benefited from his thoughtful worship leadership, his eloquent and heartfelt prayers, his good humor and his caring presence around the church. Dick has been a blessing to the staff, the Congregational Care Team, the Senior Adult Council and the Deacons with whom he has attended to the pastoral care of the congregation. Not only has Dick served us well, he was willing to commit to serve for a length of time which allowed for a strategic staff design to be put in place prior to beginning our formal search for a new associate.
Dick came to us after serving as Pastor at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church for 20 years, and having been with us for more than two years, he says that now he really is ready to retire. While he is required by the presbytery to take a break from regular participation here at BMPC in order to make way for a new Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults, we do look forward to Dick and Kathy’s returning participation in the future. Kathy joined the church, and she has been a treasured member of our Sanctuary Choir these last two years and a leader of the seasonal sanctuary flower committee. Dick will maintain his part-time counseling practice in the Middleton Center.
As we prepare to give thanks to God for Dick’s good work among us, know that the session has called a Congregational Meeting for Sunday, April 23, to call new Associate Pastors for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults and for Congregational Life and Stewardship. Pending their election, they will begin in early May and early June, respectively.
I hope you will join us Sunday to say thanks to Dick for his ministry among us.
