
Dear Friends in Christ,
I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to returning
to the United Methodist Church of Babylon. As may of you know I was the
student intern and then the Associate Pastor in Babylon from 1971 to 1978.
Thirty four years have passed since then. We have a lot of catching-up
acquainting and reacquainting to do as we begin this new venture in ministry.
In preparation for my coming I have met with the Lay
Speakers, the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee and other church leaders.
Changing pastors is always a difficult thing especially for those who
have only known Reverend Lange as their pastor. It is a joyous thing that
he is going to a well-deserved retirement after an outstanding ministry
in the New York Conference.
Many of you know that I have been in my present church
for 32 years, but it is time for a change in my life. I am so grateful
that not only is it a change but it is a going home. There are so many
warm and familiar faces in the Babylon church and those of you whom I
do not know, I am looking forward to getting to know you.
Sunday July 1st is my first Sunday in Babylon. I understand
there is to be one service that day at 9:30am. I am preaching about our
call to be disciples of Christ and on a very personal note I will be talking
about a call to ministry that came to a teenager on June 4th 1968 in the
Babylon Methodist Church. I look forward to our shared ministry. Thank
you for welcoming me back. God bless you.
Yours in the Love which is Christ,
The Rev. Thomas P. Carney
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