A final word from Pastor Charles

I want to thank all of you for the many ways you allowed me to be your pastor. As the years go by, I will look back fondly on our time together; I pray the same will be true for you.

On the St. Paul’s UMC website, we have a list of the pastors who have served at St. Paul’s Methodist / United Methodist Church since 1964. I wonder about the experience of the thirteen pastors who preceded me. What did the passion of those pastors for God look like? I wonder about the disciples they served. 

In five ½ years, I performed one marriage and conducted too many funerals. I’ve visited those in hospitals, rehabs, and shut ins. I’ve welcomed new members and said goodbye to others. Together, we realized a few dreams, lived through some challenges (including the pandemic), and by the grace of God, we thrived.

While I am leaving you, there is one who remains constant: God. God has been active among the people of this congregation from the beginning, and God will be with you for the rest of time and beyond. If the making of disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world begins in the heart of each participant in the ministries of this congregation, if you allow God to guide the work of St. Paul’s, the congregation will always have a mission. The church in the future may not look like the church we have today. There may be challenges to come which require hard choices to be made. But a passion for God will see you through all your future challenges. This passion guided previous generations here at St. Paul’s UMC, a passion which allowed them to navigate their own challenges. They managed and flourished; so can you.

I pray that you have a blessed future. I hope that you will welcome the Rev. Elizabeth Burg and her family as you welcomed Belinda and me in 2019.

May John Wesley’s three simple rules guide you and the ministries of this congregation in the years to come: “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.”

Finally, thank you for making Belinda’s and my time in the south Boulder such a blessing; we will never forget this congregation.

Every blessing,

Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula

May YHWH bless you and keep you! May YHWH’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you! May YHWH look kindly upon you and give you peace!

- Numbers 6:24-26 (The Inclusive Bible)