From The Pastor's Desk: June 2009

To the Congregation at Martinez,

This is a sad time for me as I prepare to leave you for my next appointment at Valley Springs Community United Methodist Church, beginning July 1, 2009.

Nine years have passed by very quickly. I remember that day in May 2000 when I met with the members of the SPRC, my first Sunday service and the first few months we needed to adjust to one another. There was not much to adjust to really and my family and I seemed to fit in with the congregation very well.

I am so proud that we are a very welcoming church to everyone who came through our doors. We might not have always succeeded in providing the needed facilities to some who came to church but God knows we always did our very best. We have always shown our great joy, faithfulness and deep commitment in our little congregation and I feel God is leading us in the right direction. I hope you will continue in your journey of faith with more vigor and determination.

I have certainly grown as a pastor and will carry a lot of rich experiences with me to my next appointment. I have made a lot of friends and those will continue for a lifetime. We have studied, worshipped, sung and played together. We have discussed various issues and not always agreed, but worked alongside of each other in the true spirit of Christian love to fulfill God's work in the community and the world.

I have enjoyed being your pastor, baptizing children, marrying couples, doing the funeral for others and seeing you grow in your faith. I have been privileged to share your joys and sorrows. I am grateful that we are a friendly church regardless of the world and its problems. I have tried to open your hearts and minds and the doors of the church to others that they too might come to know and experience the love of Christ.

I express my sincere appreciation to the leaders of the congregation and others who did not need to be prompted and prodded to do what the church needed. What a bunch of fine people you are. My hats off to you.

May God continue preparing each of us for the rest of our journey of faith. May you welcome your new pastor with open arms and hearts as you did with me and my family. I simply thank God for the friendship, love and time we have spent together. I am a better pastor and a more loving person because of each of you. Thank you for loving my family and giving me this opportunity to love each of you.

On behalf of Cora, my children, grandchildren and our extended family, I thank God and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

In Christ's Service,
Pastor Winston

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