AUMC PASTORS: REV.
PATTY WEHN-GLOWSKI
Rev.
Patty Wehn-Glowski
Associate Pastor 1997-2002
Ashford Member for 22 years
(Text of farewell speech)
The day has finally arrived and I'm moving on. 22
years ago I arrived at Ashford and over those years I wondered what
would ever make me leave this wonderful church. And I'm sure
some of you were beginning to wonder that very same thing. Well, it
took God almighty Himself to pry me out of here.
It's been quite a journey for me as you all well know.
If I live to be 100 I can always say that one-quarter of my life has
been spent here at Ashford serving the Lord. I tried to add up
the number of dinners, music programs, worship services, dinner
theaters, the wonderful events: the peppermint fairs; mission trips to
Jamaica; the youth group mid-winters and I always told them I'd quit
youth work when I could wake up in the morning and not be worried
about what the kids said when they saw me without makeup. But
suffice to say I could not come up with a good number....it's just
been many.
I'm truly appreciative and thankful for all God has
given me through each and every one of you here. The many saints
I have met along my way have loved and supported me long before I ever
went into formal ministry. And you guided and trained me as I
entered the ordained ministry. I hope and pray in the days ahead
that the record will show that I have served you well here.
I think is is so important to thank. When I look
back on all the ways it's like I'm the baby bird and now is the day
you are kicking me out of the nest. Because truly, I grew up
here. I am truly an Ashford girl and I'm one of the few who can
really say that because most of them were boys. (referring to
other Ashford members who entered the ministry)
While I'm no longer going to be your Pastor, I will
always be your friend and I take each one of you with me and you will
live in my heart, as well as all you have taught and given me over the
past years. And I will always honor those memories as I continue
to serve the Lord. It is my prayer from my mouth to God's ears
that whenever you hear my name spoken that you will remember me and
that you will hear will be a blessing and honor to all you have given
me.
Knowing you as well as I do I know you guys are going
to want to welcome Gary (referring to the new associate pastor Gary
Leinhart) and give him your full love and support as he continues his
ministry here. Gary's accomplishments and many gifts and graces will
be such a blessing to Ashford.
You all know Christian education is my first love.
And the reason it is, is because I spent many a young year sitting in
front of boring teachers at ages 4, 5, 6...20. And I always said
I could do this so much better. This doesn't have to be boring;
This is so exciting! And then along came my husband, who took
the fourth and fifth graders and did "The battles of the
Bible" with army men and salt mats. And just opened up a whole
new life for me in history and geography and in the battles and the
history of the Bible. In fact our room was so full of stuff: the
pictures, the timelines, the mountains, the army men...it actually got
ripped off! That room got ripped off. The posters were
stolen, the timelines were taken, we still don't know where they went.
But we got right back up there the next week and everything was put
back just as it was....and this church helped us do that. I've always
been grateful because the church has not only served me, it served my
husband as well.
I encourage you to do everything in your power to move
this church forward in the many ministries where Ashford has always
been faithful. Stay strong in worship. And stay strong in all
the spiritual disciplines personally and as a church family so that
the faithful, loving, compassionate ministry of Jesus Christ can be
carried out to many in the community and onto the world.
I've worked with all the pastors that have ever graced
Ashford and the many, many wonderful staff members. I'm sure I
have given each their fair share of gray hairs. But I know that
we had many wonderful moments and experiences together and far more
moments of joy than I can even tell you in these few minutes.
I thank Ernie (Turney, Senior Pastor) the current
staff: Jackie (Spradley, secretary/receptionist), Cindy (Lewis,
business manager), Linda (Lundquist, office do-it-all) just wonderful
people. All the volunteer staff, they've meant so much to me in
the past few years. And I thank each and every one of them for their
love, kindness, and patience over the years. I wanted to tell
you you've "learned me up well."
I especially wish to thank all of you who worked so
hard to make today so special (the farewell reception) Ernie,
the SPRC, as well as all of you who have come to this last fellowship
time for us together.
I am truly humbled by your kindness and your desire to
send me on my way wrapped in love and good wishes. I humbly
thank each and every one of you and I praise God that I have known you
all. I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I walk into a new
mission field. Pray that I will serve and honor my new church family
and my new community as well as that has been your legacy to me.
I leave this place with the grace and peace of Jesus.
Look into the future with all the joy and excitement of knowing a
loving, faithful God who will lead me in His will and purpose for my
life.
Thank you! Thank you very much for all you have
done to help me grow in discipleship and to know that kind of blessed
assurance. May you all know and continue on in the grace and
peace of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit this day
and in all of your days forward as a church family and as families and
friends.
I bid you farewell, I bid you love, and may God's
richest blessings be yours. Thank You.
Patty Wehn-Glowski
