Rev. Peter C. de Vries, Ph.D. has served Old Union since November 1993.
To learn more about Rev. Dr. de Vries, go to FaceBook, Linked-In, or his blog.
FROM THE PASTOR
Thirty years ago this month, I was ordained as a minister of the word and sacrament. I spent the first five years of my ministry serving two churches in northern Armstrong County, before moving to southern Butler County. In November it will be twenty-five years since I began service as the pastor of Old Union Church. You have eagerly explored new opportunities for ministry, you have boldly and successfully undertaken an ambitious building project, and you exemplify welcoming and supportive Christian fellowship. You have been a wonderful partner in raising my children, you have encouraged me during my doctoral studies, and you continue to support my mission work in Ghana. I cannot imagine serving a better church. I will never pretend to know God’s will for my future, but I would be very happy if it is his desire for me to continue to serve at Old Union until my retirement.
There are some challenges that come with long-term ministry, however. We can easily fall into comfortable routines without noticing new possibilities around us. Because I am the only pastor that many of you have known, my limitations hinder aspects of your spiritual development. Over the years, I could lose my enthusiasm for ministry, resulting in dull preaching and disillusioned leadership.
For these reasons, the session and I have applied for and received a grant from the Lilly Foundation for me to take a sabbatical for 14 weeks next year, beginning in late April. This time away will also include three of my weeks of vacation for the year. The grant covers all the costs; no church money will be used. The sabbatical is an investment in my continuing ministry at Old Union, in order to renew my faith, and to re-discover the joy of ministry and my calling as a pastor. My time away will consist of activities to bring renewal in four areas of my life: spirituality, relationships, recreation, and intellectual-vocational training. When I return at the end of July, I will hopefully be revitalized and energized as I continue to serve as Old Union’s pastor.
While I am way, the church will be served by a “sabbatical pastor.” The session will be seeking an experienced and capable pastor to fill your pastoral functions: worship, visitation, administration, and so forth. In addition to these duties, the sabbatical pastor will help you better understand what it means to be Old Union Church, independent from my influence and presence. By the end of July, you will hopefully have a clearer understanding of the direction God wants the church to go.
At the conclusion of the sabbatical, a nationally-recognized church consultant will join us to help bring together what we have discovered, in order to find a direction for our continued ministry together to serve and honor God.
Over the coming months, you will learn more about the plans for this sabbatical. In the meantime, I appreciate your prayers for the session and me as we make preparations.
Peter
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com