ESUMC News­let­ter

Dear friends in Christ, 

I wish to begin this newsletter introduction, my final one as your pastor, with simply a word of thanks. 

After six years of ministry with you, my tenure as pastor of ESUMC will come to an end on Sunday 31 May. Having spent the last 26 years as a UMC Global Ministries missionary, this summer I will return to the United States. In the coming months, my wife Noel will also conclude her United Nations assignment in Ukraine, and we shall relocate to the midwest United States, to be closer to our two sons, to my mother, and to Noel’s parents and extended family.

These last few months have been filled with meaningful moments of transition: the final meeting of our Bible study group, the conclusion of the busiest-ever season of the Wärmestube, reflections with our various church committees, last home visits to church members and friends, funeral services for our beloved church members Paulina Analena and Nenette Coudek. These occasions, and many more, have provided an opportunity to give thanks to God for the blessings of faith and community.

As bittersweet as these gatherings have been, I am truly excited about how we shall mark the coming weeks, my final month with the congregation.

On Sunday 3 May, we will celebrate the two sacraments of our church - Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. On this blessed day, we will truly experience the wideness of God’s mercy, and witness the spaciousness of the Kingdom of God, where there is plenty of room for us all.

On Sunday 10 May, Women’s Sunday, the women of ESUMC will lead the congregation in worship, with Tinu Aganga-Williams offering the message for the day. This service shall remind us of the extraordinary witness of the women of our church, and the blessings they bring to our community every day, throughout the year.

During 14-17 May, our lay leaders and I will be in Salzburg to participate in the Annual Conference of the UMC in Austria, as Jerry Barton shall give the Sunday message at ESUMC. I am grateful for this final gathering with my clergy colleagues and other leaders of our church in Austria, as I express my thanks for their support and partnership over these years.

My final two Sundays will be particularly meaningful. Join us on Pentecost Sunday 24 May, as we celebrate the Confirmation of Lisa Ekeh and Nana Ampia-Addison. As part of the sermon presentation, Lisa and Nana will share brief reflections on their Christian faith. During the ritual of Confirmation, members of the congregation will pledge their support for the confirmands as they begin this new stage of their faith journey.

Lastly, I invite you to attend our service of worship on Sunday 31 May, my last service as pastor of the congregation. During the hour of worship, Superintendent Rev. Stefan Schröckenfuchs will lead the congregation in the Order of Farewell to a Pastor. Following the service, we shall gather in the sanctuary for a congregational potluck meal and an afternoon of blessings. Please kindly bring a dish of food to share with one another as we gather in thanksgiving. Given that I arrived in Vienna in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, and we were not able to worship in person or gather for community fellowship, it will be a joy to conclude my time with you with a congregational meal in the sanctuary following this final worship service.

As I think back on my six years of ministry with you all, I am grateful for so many people and so many blessings. I will miss all of you, the good people of the English-Speaking United Methodist Church of Vienna. I shall remain inspired by the members of this church who pray for one another, bear each other’s burdens, and offer Christian care and hospitality to one another and to their neighbors. I will remain in prayer for the continued unity of this body of Christ, a community where the doors are open to all and in which there truly is “neither Greek nor Jew” nor any other distinction that divides God’s people. I shall give thanks to God for the harmony and respect among the lay leadership of our congregation, how our Church Council and committee chairpersons carry out their work in a spirit of mutual love and common purpose. I will always have in my ear the joyful noises of our choirs, our special musicians, and all who have shared their gifts and talents in our worship.

Thank you, friends, for the privilege of serving as your pastor. See you in worship in May!

Yours in Christ, Pastor John