When Elder and Staff Team Chair Sarah McCown approached the pulpit to make an announcement last Sunday, she wore the blue choir robe that identifies the marvelous FPC Dalton Choir that our interim pastor—The Rev. Dr. Ken McKenzie—so admires and never fails to compliment in unique ways each week.

Pastor Ken’s last official Sunday with us is this Sunday, June 30, but the Staff, Worship and Congregational Care Teams picked Sunday, June 23, to recognize Ken’s many contributions and gifts to FPC over the past 19 months.

Sarah, in her predictably able way, painted a verbal portrait of Ken’s time with us, adding her warmth and humor to reflect Pastor Ken’s warmth and humor.  Drawing upon the very popular “Barbie” movie that came out during McKenzie’s time here, she suddenly ripped open her robe to reveal a pink blouse and pointed the congregation to the choir loft to see the choristers shedding their choir robes to reveal pink blouses, dresses and shirts. All in tribute to Ken!!

The man of the hour opened a folded tee-shirt that reads, “Best. Ken. Ever.” as the accolades poured forth.  The gifting did not end there.  Children of the church gave him heart-shaped notes they had written to him.  Sarah announced that the wooden rocking chair that has graced the dais for Ken to use when he delivered Children’s Sermons was also a gift for him.  He seemed relieved to learn that a carpenter’s hand had repaired the somewhat rickety antique and happy to discover that a plaque had been added to the back of the chair denoting its importance during Pastor Ken’s time in Dalton.

Finally, a white envelope was slipped into his hand that contained a tangible expression of how appreciated Ken McKenzie is for his somewhat-extended stay in Dalton.

Following the service, the congregation was treated to what was described as a “light lunch,” but offered smoked salmon and fresh dill dip, cheese straws, ribbon sandwiches, salads, bread, desserts and so much more, prepared with loving hands by members of our church.

Thank you, Pastor Ken, for providing loving, caring ministry and teaching.  Thank you for taking a congregation full of promise, but somewhat adrift in an ocean of concern about our future and pointing us toward our next horizon.  Thank you for believing in us and helping us to renew beliefs in ourselves that have kept us afloat and continuing to seek, serve and surrender to a higher power.

Thank you for leading us in Loving First, Loving All.  Godspeed, Ken McKenzie.