Message From The Pastor's Desk

Dear Old Brick Reformed Church Family,

It's never easy saying good-bye to people we love. Whether we're saying good-bye to a son or daughter who are off to college or leaving for military service, saying good-bye to people we care about is sometimes quite difficult for people. Janet and I are experiencing such difficulty right now as we make ready to leave Old Brick Church and say good-bye to all of you.

We're feeling a sense of loss because we have developed strong attachments here at Old Brick and we’ll miss being part of the Old Brick Church family. And there is also the emotion of stepping away from parish life (which is all we have known for the past 46 years) and entering a new and very different phase of life, retirement or "semi-retirement". God has been "preparing" us for this time of transition but it is an unsettling time to say the least.

We thank God for our years in parish ministry and for these past nine years serving you here at Old Brick. Our years together have been a blessing and we can't thank you, our dear friends, enough for the patience, love, and understanding you have shown us through those years. The nine years have passed quickly and it's hard to believe our time together will soon come to an end.

I hope you feel as we do that our life together has been a "good marriage" as pastor and congregation. As we leave you, we commend you to the tender loving care of our Heavenly Father. The Apostle Paul's words come to mind from Philippians 1:

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption the forgiveness of sins."

We will continue to reside in Ocean Grove, at least until next spring. Until then, Janet will continue her employment in Wall Township and I hope to carry on my involvement with Love Lifts Us Up. As we enter this new phase of life, we ask for your prayers. We remain confident of God's faithfulness, that God will guide us in the days and years ahead and will provide for our every need as He has always done.

We will hold you in our hearts and shall remember you in our daily prayers. May God bless each one of you as you strive to remain faithful in your service to Christ through the ministry of Old Brick Reformed Church. God bless you!

Yours in Christ, Pastor George and Janet Kaden