The Reverend Susan Murtha
Interim Senior Minister
Dear new friends,
Endings, beginnings and in-betweens – our lives are made up of such experiences, although sometimes we can hardly tell which one we are in, never mind know what it all means! I have come to accompany you in these experiences; that is, the spiritual and practical work that opens to a congregation after a pastor leaves and before a new pastor arrives. This interim time involves many endings and many kinds letting go; it asks for new exploration, trust and experimentation; it brings with it complex thoughts and emotions; by definition it means shifting roles; and throughout it Christ abides, calls and imagines. If attended to faithfully, the interim time can be one of the alive, powerful and transforming seasons in the life of a congregation. I am honored to be with you and excited about all that lies ahead.
So, what’s first? Let’s start by getting to know each other! Soon you will hear of several opportunities for us to meet, talk and connect. For now, let me begin by sharing a bit about myself. I am a native of Connecticut, a former mechanical engineer, and the mother of a 26 year-old son who lives and works in San Francisco. As an ordained minister, I’ve served diverse churches throughout the state – rural Woodstock, urban Manchester, your neighbors in Guilford, and most recently, Old Greenwich. Each has been an amazing experience and together they have made the minister I am today.
I so look forward to getting to know you and traveling with you in this journey just begun.
Autumn blessings, Susan Murtha
smurtha@firstcongregationalbranford.org