This
Sunday's 10 AM service at the Federated Church should be very special. It marks
a transition from a nearly three year period of interim ministry to the welcoming
of a "settled pastor."
"Our
so-called intentional interim minister, Rev. Stephen Alspach, has done a
masterful job of helping us through a difficult time, and regain our sense of
focus and mission," says Len Myatt, chair of recent Pastor Search
committee. "But now we are all beside ourselves with happiness and
excitement as we look forward to this weekend and our future with Rev. Scott
Cousineau."
As
a community church, the search committee wanted to find a pastor who was well
attuned to the needs of the people of Norfolk. Pastor Scott, as he likes to be
referred to, comes with a background particularly suited to families, Christian
education, and building a sense of community. "Pastor Steve helped us
through a visioning process. One of the outcomes was a statement which captures
the essence of our church," reports Len Myatt. Were Church feels like home and the People feel like family. So, it
came as no surprise to everyone in the church when they found out that their
new minister, Pastor Scott, was the son of a former Christian Education
director, Rev. Jan Hryniewicz (now of Union Church, Biddeford Pool, Maine). "So
many of us loved Jan when she was here, we now feel like we have a native
son."
"We
are very much like a big family," says Len, "yes, with all of the
pleasantries and complexities that statement evokes." As for Pastor Scott,
Len says he might feel like an uncle to the kids in town. You might well find
him at a ball field rooting-on the boys and girls or conducting a Christmas
pageant with little actors and live animals. "Pastor Scott tells a funny
story about a Christmas pageant held in a more formal sanctuary with marble
flooring. I guess the hoofed animals had some difficulty with their
footing." But that wont be a problem in the quaint and carpeted sanctuary
at the Federated Church.
On
Sunday, October 28, the church service will be the final one for Pastor Steve,
and the first for Pastor Scott. In a rather original format, the service will
be jointly conducted by the two, and represents the passing of the shepherd's
crock from a fine man of God to the next. The service will be enriched by the Willie
Sardillo Jazz quartet, which is composed of a sax, piano, upright bass, and
vocalist.
"We
find Pastor Scott to be fun, engaging, entertaining and inspiring." To
anyone interested in this Sunday's historical event, Len offers the church's
new mission statement: Welcoming.
Serving. Seeking Christ Together. Come Worship Christ with Us.