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Sunday, August 9, 2015

Farewell Tribute and Blessing for Pastor Phil Garrison and Patricia McGee at Farewell Liturgy on Aug. 9, 2015

Bridget Mary Meehan, represented Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, 
in giving tribute below to Pastor Phil Garrison. See text and blessing below and photos from liturgy 
on Aug. 9th at St. Andrew UCC and MMOJ on Aug. 1, 2015

Pastor Phil co-presided at Liturgy on Aug.1st with MMOJ Community
Pastor Phil and Bridget Mary Meehan
Bridget Mary Meehan: Tribute and Blessing on Behalf of MMOJ Community:
 Pastor Phil, as a representative of our Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive 
Catholic Community, we give thanks to God for your Spirit-filled ministry here at St. Andrew UCC.
When our community outgrew its home church setting,
 I came knocking on St, Andrew’s door.
 After consultation with your beautiful faith-filled community, 
you opened this blessed sanctuary to us.
Walking in the footsteps of Antoinette Brown, 
the first woman to be ordained as a mainstream Protestant minister 
in 1853 in the United States,  
you supported gender equality in spite of the 
Vatican’s and local bishop’s opposition to women priests!
Co Presiders: Kathryn Shea ARCWP , Sally Brochu, ARCWP and Pastor Phil Garrison at MMOJ Liturgy on Aug. 1st.
Farewell to our community 

Thank you Pastor Phil and St. Andrew UCC for your courage.
In the Gospel we read that Jesus prayed that all may be one.
Pastor Phil, you have prayed with us, laughed with us and 
cried with us for the past 7 years. 
You attended many of our liturgies.  I appreciate your warm welcome to the participants at our ordinations and your organizational skills that contributed to the success of our major retreat days with world renown speakers like Matthew Fox.
You invited us to pray with your community here at St. Andrew. 
Our members have shared how much they appreciated 
your contemplative Wed. evening liturgies.  

Thank you for your spiritual depth and leadership.
We have participated in the feast of Maundy Thursday
 where we shared a reenactment of the Last Supper and 
celebrated communion together in groups of 12 around the Table. 
 You even took a risk by allowing a certain woman priest  
to play the role of Jesus at the Last Supper!



Thank you for being a risk taker and a great liturgist.
Pastor Phil, because of your visionary leadership, we can truly say that we are one in the spirit and that united in prayer, love and service.
 Thank you for being you, abounding in kindness and  generous service.  You have touched our souls and we have grown.

As we bid you farewell, we will hold you in our hearts
 forever with deep gratitude for all you have given to us and 
for all that you are, the face of Christ in our world today.
We bless you and Patricia as you walk in faith into a 
new adventure into the unknown trusting that the 
Living God will accompany you every step of the way.
 One day we will meet again.  Namaste!


 Final Blessing at Farewell Liturgy at St. Andrew UCC

May God bless you with a restless discomfort 
about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
 so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and 
exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, 
freedom and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed 
for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, 
or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach 
out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe
 that you really can make a difference in this world, 
so that you are able, with God’s grace, 
to do what others claim cannot be done.

Let it be so! Amen!

A Franciscan blessing
Thank you, Pastor Phil and Patricia. We will never forget you.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org,
www. marymotherofjesus.org






1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thank you.
You faith-filled presence and your amazing words were so excellent.
Thank you, dear Bridget Mary.
Yes, one day we will meet again!