This Fall our staff studied Paul’s interaction with the Ephesian elders in Acts 20: 13-38, through the lens of “what does this passage teach us about saying goodbye well?”
As everyone knows, we at Uptown we are about to send out our next church plant. It is hard to believe this week is “Sending Sunday,” and in just over a week Cross Park will be celebrating their first Sunday Morning Worship service (March 6.)
Some of our members have been through this many times and know what to expect, others of us have never been through a church plant and are learning as we go. All of us, veterans and rookies, those sending and those being sent, are in the middle of a season of many goodbyes.
As we have encouraged you from the pulpit, in announcements, during communion, in life groups and now from the blog…We encourage you to say goodbye well. To that end we would do well to take a cue from Paul and the Ephesian elders,
“remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself (Paul) said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.” -Acts 20:35-38
A few things that stand out:
-Remember why we are doing this, for God’s glory and the expansion of God’s kingdom, and that actually includes our good.
-Take the time to say goodbye well, fight the urge to just brush it off.
-Be willing to express with words and actions what someone means to you when you say goodbye.
-Be prepared for the emotions that come with saying goodbye well.
-Don’t attempt to protect yourself and take the easy way out by pulling away from the relationship early. Instead be willing to accompany those that are being sent all the way “to the ship.”
Praying for God’s grace as we all attempt to say goodbye well.
