Ken’s e-Pistle

June 5, 2024

This shall be a hard Sunday. Jean Strain, our beloved Director of Christian Education, shall enter the halls of retirement. Health issues and the prospect of a complex surgery with a long period of recuperation brought the issue to the fore. Truth be told, Jean and I have discussed her retirement but neither of us saw it coming quite this soon.

Jean has been a delight and a treasure. I believe that she is the only Certified Christian Educator in Cherokee Presbytery and one of only a few in the State of Georgia and the Synod of South Atlantic. I have enjoyed our Monday morning informal discussions and her dependable presence and wisdom whenever it has been needed.

Dan, of course, is a prince of a fellow, also.

It is perhaps evidence of Divine Providence that all of this is happening now. Jean’s official retirement date will be the 15th of June and my next attempt at retirement will begin on the 30th. Then comes Nichole with her big basket of hope, dreams, faith and perseverance on the 1st of July to begin an exciting new chapter in the FPC annals. It will be an exciting time of change, challenge, and opportunity as the changing of the guard is always.

Preparing for a return to a life of gainful indolence is always a bit of a challenge, but I believe that Jean is up to it. As for Dan, well, the jury is still out.

I bid you peace!