Ave atque vale, the Romans used to say: Hail and farewell.
On Pentecost, we said goodbye to some friends. Charles and Jann were here on sabbatical, Rob and Marsha because of sports. But seasons and semesters end, and it was time for them to leave. So after Holy Communion, Pr. Terri led the “Farewell and Godspeed” service.
Soon, of course, we will say many more goodbyes. As the school year winds down, we know that many of our Sunday evening “regulars” will disappear. We’re a little uneasy about summer worship services, as you can imagine. Pastors in college towns and resort communities are used to this, but it will be new for us. We are bracing ourselves for the shock.
The strangest part, for us, is that the English ministry in Cluj is so new that we have scarcely had time to say a proper “hello” to anyone. We have not formed the long, deep relationships that parish pastors get used to. As Terri said, we can’t even say we’re losing members, because this isn’t the sort of congregation that has members — only friends. But of course, it’s hard to lose your friends.
So here’s what we tell ourselves: that we aren’t losing anybody. Not in the way that matters. Nor are we really all that far from our old friends and colleagues in New York, about whom we spend more time thinking than you might expect. Because if you go to church on Sunday, wherever you are, then you are worshiping with us, as we are with you. Wherever we may be standing, we are all gathered around the same altar.
