A Farewell

May 3, 2016

Beloved Westminster Community,

It is with a full heart that I share with you that I have accepted a call to serve as the solo pastor of Culver City Presbyterian Church in Southern California. This is an exciting opportunity, and I hope you will pray for me as I prepare to take it on. Consequently, I must resign as your Associate Pastor. My last Sunday at Westminster will be June 5, 2016.

I have loved serving God with you at Westminster for nearly six years. God has blessed and nurtured me with season after season of new challenges and new growth. It has been a great privilege for me to offer my best in service to God and you.

The church I am going to offers me new possibilities and opportunities. Culver City Presbyterian is in a redevelopment period where they are looking to renew who they are as a congregation. They are looking to reach out to their local community in new ways and have a more meaningful presence. It is a diverse and vibrant community, and I believe my gifts will be a good match for their ministry.

Although I am looking forward to my new position, it is still difficult to say goodbye. While our mutual love and affection remain, our professional relationship as pastor and parishioner must come to an end on June 5th. I will no longer be your spiritual counselor; I will no longer be leading worship or conducting funerals, weddings, or baptisms. I will be working with session over the next two months to support strong planning and healthy preparation for this transition.

In the end, the Good News remains: God goes with us, whether we are gathered or scattered. In Christ, we are one body, united, no matter where our journeys lead us. I trust you will continue to pray for me and my family, even as I continue to pray for each of you.

I hope to be able to say a personal goodbye to each of you in these next couple of months; in particular, I hope you will join us in worship on June 5th as we formally say goodbye.

Blessings,

Rev. Frances Wattman Rosenau

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