Anniversary Reflections

Dear Friends:

For the first several years of our relationship, we were both students. We attended the same college (where we met) and then the same seminary (after we were married). Our first assignment as pastors had us sharing one position with two small churches on the island of Kauai. We were happy to each be working part time, as those were the early years of parenting.

When we came to Pacific Beach in 1991, we continued to share a job. The difference here was one church instead of two...and the fact that we were back in familiar territory. (I grew up in San Diego, and Andy had lived in various locations around Southern California.) As has been said many times, PB UMC proved a great match between pastor(s) and people!

When Elizabeth and Christina began to spend more of their days at school, the job here was increased to "one and one quarter" time. We served together here for more than 9 years. Then in February of 2000, Andy became the pastor of the Mission Hills United Methodist Church. I was very happy to be able to remain at PB while we experienced this new configuration of working in two different churches.

Now, another change is on the horizon. (Don't panic, I intend to stay right here!) Andy will complete his time at Mission Hills on June 30 of this year. Then, in early September, he will begin a one year program of "Clinical Pastoral Education." He will be working as a chaplain at one or more Sharp hospitals, while also attending seminars designed to deepen his pastoral abilities and knowledge of medical topics and issues.

After all the other combinations we have experienced, it will be interesting to see what it is like to have one of us pastoring a church, while the other serves a specialized pastoral function NOT attached to a particular church. There is much that remains to be seen. For instance, we don't know yet how much or how often you will be seeing Andy around PB UMC. Time (and God) will tell!

Lizz (known as Elizabeth in her younger years) will also be making some adjustments. She has been very involved with the Mission Hills youth program in the last three years. For benefit of those of you who have not seen much of her during that time, you might be interested to know that she is finishing her sophomore year of high school and is now in possession of a driver's license. Her level of independence increases daily!

Christina, meanwhile, has kept PB UMC as her church "home base" all along, and will be confirmed in membership next month along with the other youth who chose to take that step.

It's hard to believe the years have flown so fast, and that this summer will mark twelve years of Herron Sweets at the PB UMC parsonage! Thank you for sharing it with us, and may God bless you through any transitions and milestones that you may be experiencing!

In the peace of Christ,

Pastor April

P.S. Our 20th Wedding Anniversary trip is being saved for the end of June, when Andy and I will spend five days near Rock Creek, on the eastern side of the Sierras.

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