A Message from Pastor Andrea Chaumont

Dear Mt. Baker Church, 

“The Transition Process involves four elements: Listening, Discerning, Planning and Implementing. There are different activities throughout the year that help a congregation do this.” This is taken from the website of another church that is currently in transition after another long pastorate, Snohomish Presbyterian Church.

If you want to see what their transition process is like, you can do that here: https://www.snopres.org/transition

You have already started the process of listening through your table group discussions in January. I am working with the Session to continue the listening process before we get to nominating the PNC (pastoral nominating committee). It is tempting to want to skip this step of listening, but it’s a foundational one and an important part of the process, perhaps especially after a long pastorate. 

I met with Session on Tuesday and we talked about how to best serve MBPPC in this season. You have a dedicated and engaged Session that is ready to do the work necessary during this transitional time to ensure many years of fruitful ministry ahead. I shared with the Session about the transition process and read some of the types of questions that we tend to ask in transition. Two of those questions that I would ask you to reflect on now are:

“what is one thing you most appreciate about MBPPC?”

“As you think about who we are now, what are you excited about?”

We look forward to engaging in some intentional discussion together over the next months. Please be in prayer for the transition process, that God would help us to take the next right step, not running ahead or falling behind. You also have a dedicated staff who love MBPPC and have worked diligently to craft meaningful worship opportunities. I feel lucky to count myself as part of this team!

This Sunday we continue our sermon series on The Lord’s Prayer with “your kingdom come.” If you want to look ahead, read Luke 11:1- 4 and Luke 17: 20 - 21. The kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world that are about power plays and platforms, but the kingdom is the upside down kingdom, the one that is built on almost imperceivable acts of humility that ultimately change everything.

Blessings,

Pastor Andrea