Pastor’s Blog

April 26, 2020

Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The prophet Jeremiah’s words to the elders and priests have always struck me as particularly poignant. Jeremiah writes,

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord,

plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

These words are a reminder, to me, that God is a living, breathing, and ever-evolving part of our lives, and our ministry. They sustain me in the promise that the future God intends for God’s people, God’s world, and God’s church is indeed, a future with hope.

In 2014 we began a journey together in ministry. After joining you, Holly and I soon welcomed Nathaniel into the world, and give thanks to God for such loving communities in which to raise him. A call to serve one congregation – was joyfully expanded to encompass a new shared ministry between St. John’s, Mahone Bay and Mt. Calvary, Upper Northfield. I count it as a deep privilege to have been so warmly welcomed into your lives, homes, and into the ministry that we share.

To that end, it is with a myriad of emotions that I write to inform you that by nomination of the Bishop and through the election of the Synod Council, I have accepted a new call to serve as an Assistant to the Bishop of the Eastern Synod. While I have always, and continue to find great joy in serving as a parish pastor, I am equally as excited to serve the many lay, clergy, congregations, and specialized ministries who make up our synodical family. My final Sunday at St. John’s and Mt. Calvary will be Sunday, May 31, 2020, after which I will take two weeks of outstanding vacation to facilitate our transition.

I want you to know that this decision was not made lightly. Holly and I have spent many hours in prayer, conversation and reflection. Our love for each of you, the people of Mahone Bay and Upper Northfield has not diminished, and yet we cannot deny the fact that God has called us to serve God and God’s church in a new way. Be assured, that you will remain in our thoughts and prayers as God leads you into the future that God intends. I am certain, that it will be filled with great joy and overflowing hope. You are a faithful expression of God’s church, determined and innovative, with beautiful gifts to share! Never forget that!

I also want you to know that our Bishop Michael Pryse has committed to providing an opportunity for us to gather together in celebration of our shared ministry once physical distancing restrictions have been lifted. I look forward to the party – where there will be LOTS of hugs!! Likewise, we commit to supporting the communities of St. John’s and Mt. Calvary in any way that we can until an interim minister is in place.

These are certainly challenging times for our world. While I wish that I was able to share this news with you in person on a Sunday morning, such an arrangement is simply not possible. But let us find solace in the promise that we are still able to hold one another in prayer.

God has been with us. God is with us now. And God will continue to be with us as we step boldly into the future that God intends.

With love and prayers,

Pastor Adam Snook

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