A WORD FROM PASTOR ANDREW HOOK

A Final Word from Pastor Andrew

September 14, 2023

I was appointed to serve Magnolia United Methodist on March 1, 2019. My first worship service was Ash Wednesday. So, the first time many congregants and members ever met me, it was a service where pastors proclaim and remind people of their mortality. “Hi, I’m the new guy. Remember, you’re all gonna die.” 

It was a sudden and hard pastoral change for this church. My predecessor had only been here for 20 months before he was reappointed. And pastoral changes normally happen in the United Methodist Church in the summer and a pastoral appointment usually last 3-4 years. So, it was a little bit of whiplash for our church. And for my family. 

Coming to Magnolia was not looked for, nor wanted. But, we pastors aren’t usually given much choice in where we go. It was as sudden and hard for us as it was for the church. And yet, we immediately started to fall in love with this church and community. And now, 4.5 years later, it’s hard to say goodbye, in yet another out-of-cycle move. 

I know it’s hard. This was not looked for, nor wanted, by anyone involved. From the bishop of our conference down to us here in Magnolia, no one wants or likes unexpected and out-of-cycle changes. But if there’s a church able to weather this and carry on their for God’s kingdom, it’s Magnolia United Methodist. 

We’ve served and worshipped God together through the immense societal disruption of a global pandemic that forced us to learn new ways to worship together. We’ve invested time and energy in improving our campus to make it more welcoming for our members and guests. We’ve grown in our heart for mission. We’ve mourned at funerals and celebrated baptisms and welcomed so many new members. We’ve received awards from our conference for all that we do. This church has taught me so much about what it means to be a pastor. And when I think of this church, I see a church ready for what’s next. I see a church ready for whatever God calls us to do.

Pastor Carrie DeLeon will be blessed to be your pastor. To come alongside and help with everything you are already doing and point the way toward what’s next. I pray Pastor Carrie falls in love with this church and community the way I have. 

This Sunday will be my last time in the pulpit. Our District Superintendent, Rev. Elizabeth Duffin, will be preaching next Sunday. And then Pastor Carrie starts October 1. And I'll be in and out of the office through the end of the month getting everything as ready as I can for the move. If you need me, it'll be best to call me. 

I’m going to be a mess, Sunday. Saying goodbye is not something I’m particularly good at. 

So, I ask for patience and laughter. I get to gather once more with you. We get to sing songs together once more. Hear the Word of God read and proclaimed once more. We get to celebrate the sacrament of baptism once more. We get to see the Church grow once more. If there’s a perfect way to say goodbye, it’ll be just like this. 

So, once more, Sunday is coming. We’ll see you there. 

Thank you, Magnolia, for being you. For being our church. 

--
Andrew Hook

Pastor Magnolia Methodist