“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in all.”             ~ Ephesians 4:4-5

The last two weeks I have spent a lot of time thinking about God’s call.  Paul’s words from Ephesians ring in my heart as I prepare to join you all at Grace church.  The last few weeks have been a myriad of leavings, saying good bye to so many friends, final sermon and worship services, and loving celebrations.   This has been wonderful, but it pales in comparison to the joy that I feel as I consider God’s call and what lies before us as we begin a new journey together.

The last of my belongings are now packed in the trunk and backseat of my car and tomorrow morning I will begin the 20 hour journey to Temple, Texas.  Lori and Kim and I will say our temporary goodbyes in the morning and I will stop and have breakfast with my son, Doug on the way at Wright State in Dayton, OH, then miles of open road.  Doug will be in Temple for a week beginning March 17th for his spring break, and Lori and Kim will follow on his heels arriving on the 24th, so you will finally have the opportunity to meet my children.  It will be a new challenge for us to live apart for a few months; however, we all agree that it is for the best so Kim can graduate with her class from Granville High School.

I am deeply grateful for all the work that the PNC, Property Team and Allyn Testroet, Kathy Vineyard, Dave Hermann, and Kirk and Carol Fischer have done to make this move as painless as possible.

 I will be spending the week before I officially begin on February 1st, getting settled, perhaps playing a little golf and getting my bearings in Temple.    I look forward to getting to know you so we can discover together all that God has called us to be and to do.

Faithfully and Joyfully In Christ,

Thom