November 2, 2017 My dear Friends: I love anniversaries and remembrances. Maybe that’s why I’m a church historian in my other life—but birthdays and anniversaries have always been important to me. I remember when Sara and I were dating, I celebrated every 15th for the first year that we dated (our first date was January 15). I think it was a bit overwhelming for Sara at the time, but hopefully, she reflects back and thinks it was sort of cute (maybe?). That’s why there was such joy for me personally to honor James and Pam Brown this past Sunday evening at the Community Reformation Service. For forty years, James and Pam have used their gifts and passions to bless the body of Christ; not just Briarwood Presbyterian Church for 16 years and our own congregation for 24, but many, many others in our community, in our denomination, and in the larger Reformed and evangelical world. We are so looking forward to hearing Alice Parker’s commissioned choral piece debuted at our missions conference in February, but you may want to visit the music offices to see David Butler’s amazing original watercolor that reflects the poetry in Ms. Parker’s piece. But that’s not all. At our October session meeting, the session voted unanimously and with great joy to approve a resolution to name Rev. John P. Sartelle, Sr., senior pastor emeritus, effective today (as I write), November 1, 2017. Forty years ago today, John started as senior pastor here at IPC and served this congregation for over twenty-seven years. His impact upon us is obvious and yet countless—his fingerprints are all over this place and ministry. Since John and Janet left IPC, he has served successful ministry stints at Tates Creek Presbyterian Church, Lexington, Kentucky, and at his present congregation, Christ Presbyterian Church, Oakland, Tennessee. In receiving this honor, John’s not leaving his present ministry; but it seemed fitting upon this forty-year anniversary to recognize his contribution to our life together. We will have an opportunity to recognize and honor John and Janet, with their family, on Sunday, November 26, at both the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. I’ll read the resolution the session passed and we’ll recognize John during the service. In addition, we’ll be hosting a gathering in the rotunda between 9:30–11:00 for those who would like to greet the Sartelles and tell them how much they are loved. I think it’ll be a sweet time for us all as we honor one who has served Christ and us well. We want to remember these who have served us so well because they have been gifts from the resurrected and ascended Christ to us. By remembering, we stay oriented to those very values that will guide us into Christ’s future for us—faithful to the Scripture, true to the Reformed faith, passionately obedient to the Great Commission. All of this is just another way of saying that we long for God to shape us as new people for a new Memphis. In the grip of God’s grace,
Rev. Sean Michael Lucas, PhD Senior Pastor Independent Presbyterian Church Memphis, TN