Alex Ovechkin and his then-fiancée (now wife), Nastya Shubskaya, with their dog, Blaik, as a puppy during Halloween 2015

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Sunday, March 14, 2020: Virtual Service at Newtown United Methodist Church, Pennsylvania

Have you ever walked into a professional’s office – a doctor, or a lawyer or an accountant, say – and saw one wall of that office covered in credentials – diplomas, certifications and awards?  I think that’s an experience that most of us have had.

It seems obvious to me that this is done because such professionals want us to know how much they know.  They want us to know that they know what they’re doing.   They want us to know that we can trust them and their expertise.

There’s an old saying: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  For me, that’s not entirely true when it comes to professionals like doctors and lawyers.  I really want to know that my doctor knows what he or she is doing.  I want to see proof of that as soon as I walk into that doctor’s office!

However, I do believe that saying is 100% true when it comes to pastors.

When you walk into my office, you won’t see my diplomas or any other credentials on a wall. (Actually, you will see one award hanging on a wall.  Come to my office and see if you can find it!)  The reason for the lack of physical credentials in my office isn’t because I believe pastors shouldn’t display them. (That’s just a style choice, as far as I’m concerned.)  It’s because I don’t know exactly where they are!  They’re packed away in a box somewhere in the parsonage or church. Obviously, I’m not too concerned about displaying them! 

Why?

It’s because there are two other credentials I believe are much more important for you to know about me as your pastor, and I can’t hang these credentials on a wall.  These two credentials are: 1) I love God, and; 2) I love people. 

I could know a great deal about a pastor’s education and experience.  I could have a firm understanding of that pastor’s areas of expertise.  If I didn’t have a sense, however, that the pastor loved God and loved me, that other information wouldn’t count for much.  I’m thinking you’re probably like me on this.

That’s why I’m working hard by the grace God gives me to establish these two credentials with you. Once established, then perhaps my experience and expertise as a pastor will become important and useful. 

I so appreciate all the people at NUMC who have given me and are giving me opportunities to establish these credentials.  Thank you for coming to worship so you can honor God with me and experience God’s presence with me and thereby get a sense of my heart for worship, God’s Word and the importance of the gathered Body of Christ.  Thank you for talking with me about your lives.  Thank you for sharing some of the difficult places you’re currently experiencing and allowing me to offer pastoral care in those places.  It is in such ways and by such means that the two most important credentials of a pastor become known! 

Who knows?  Maybe someday I’ll even find that box of diplomas… 

Blessings,

“Getting to know you…getting to know all about you…”  I remember hearing that song when I was young.  My mom would sing it to me.  I would make a face when she did.  Later, I would learn that it was a famous song from a musical and not something my mother made up!

Now, you and I are in the process of getting to know one another as pastor and congregation.  I’ve met many of you (and am doing my best to learn your names).   If I haven’t met you yet, I hope to very soon.  That’s very important to me.

I believe that Christianity is about relationships.  The Holy Trinity is a relationship.  In Jesus, God has taken on flesh, suffered, died and been raised to restore our relationship with our Creator.  We are called to live in a new kind of relationship with each other because of our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection.  It’s all about relationships!

My very first goal as your new pastor is to meet you and listen deeply to you so that you feel like I do know you – that I “get” you.  Everything else I do in my pastorate will build on that.  I would be honored if you gave me the opportunity to hear about your life’s journey – whether you’re currently broken, totally together or anything else in between!  (If you wanted to learn about me that would be fine as well!)

So, come to worship and say hello.  Be a part of one of the forthcoming “Cottage Meetings” where we will gather in homes and get better acquainted.  Call me if you’d like to schedule a time to meet with me.  I am looking forward to getting to know you!

Another goal for the beginning of my pastorate at Newtown is to get to know our surrounding community – not just the demographics, but the actual people who live and work in our area and what their hopes, joys and struggles are.  I believe that when a pastor is appointed to a church, that pastor is also appointed to the community around that church.  Please tell me anything about the Newtown community that you believe I should know.  It would be so helpful for me and I would appreciate it so much!

My prayer is that through the quality and character of the relationships we develop within the Newtown United Methodist Church and within our larger community, we will find ourselves moving into a closer and deeper relationship with the risen Lord.  That’s the relationship that matters most!