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.
Lanfear said she trained to serve as an intentional interim pastor with the Interim Ministry Network, used by many denominations to prepare pastors for this specific call to ministry. She has also served as a licensed clergy person in Coventryville and Chenango Forks, and served as intentional interim pastor at the Greene UCC.
Campbell said she’s hoping Lanfear will be able to “help us work, heal and define who we are and where we want to go as a church ... leading us to build a search committee to look for a permanent pastor.”
Also new this year is organist Anthony Marris, a full-time college student and employee at the Hamilton Hospital Skilled Care Nursing Home. Campbell called Marris, who’s originally from the Oriskany Falls area, a “very talented” musician who has “many aspirations to work with the choir” to keep it fresh and contemporary while holding on to its roots and traditions.
Lanfear concurred and said she was pleased that the congregation was able to find such a talented young man.
“I’m looking forward to working with him and the choir as they lead us in worshipful music,” she added.
Services at the Sherburne UCC are held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, with Sunday School for the children held at the same hour. Lanfear stressed that the UCC is an open and affirming church, which means “no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
For more information call 674-9300 or visit sherburneunitedchurchofchrist.com.