SHERBURNE – The Sherburne United Church of Christ, 1 South Main St., has started off the new year with a new interim pastor following the departure of Reverend I. Kelly Sheflett and will face a number of challenges looking ahead, according to church moderator Betsy Campbell.

Said Campbell, “We believe that if we pull together, for the common good, this church will survive and be revitalized ... we are looking forward to a new beginning.”

Long-time school counselor for the Unadilla Valley Central School District, Joanne Lanfear was officially named intentional interim pastor at the UCC on Feb. 1, a role the Oxford resident said she’s used to. This will be the third church she has served as interim, the last being the East Side Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Binghamton. And while there’s “much work to be done,” Lanfear said she is looking forward to serving the Sherburne UCC family as they work through this transition.

According to Lanfear, there are five basic tasks for congregations during the time between settled pastors, which include coming to terms with history and understanding church members’ heritage while being aware of the issues and concerns that need to be resolved in order to move forward; discovering a new identity and what God is calling them to do; taking advantage of the opportunity a change in leadership can provide; rethinking their denominational links and learning how the wider church body can help; and committing to that new leadership and a new future.