Dear Members & Friends of Trinity Presbyterian Church,

It is with a great sense of honor and elation that I accept your Session’s invitation to become your new half-time stated supply pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church. As you may already have noted in the Supply Covenant Agreement Contract, both I and your Session take this responsibility very seriously and recognize that I will answer to God for my leadership and ministry at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Although I am already honorably retired as a Presbyterian (U.S.A.) minister, I gladly embrace this exceptional opportunity to join with you on our mutual sojourn in Christ’s call to be part of His Kingdom. 

I am deeply appreciative and indebted to your session members. Arthur J. Peoples, Mark Chappell, Sharon Davis, Sherri Newell, Barbara Rinker, Meryl Davis, Ken Jones, Karen Perzia, and Wayne Williams, all of whom, have taken a “leap of faith” out of their genuine sense of hospitality, consideration, wisdom,, and spiritual discernment to embrace me as your new minister. I am grateful for their sensitivity, caring attitude, and prayerful approach to what is a new venture in faith for all of us. As a congregation, I can tell that you are blessed with solid leadership in your session, and for this I am appreciative.

Interestingly, I first sensed God leading me in the direction of Trinity the day I was requested by the Committee of Ministry (COM) of the Presbytery to attend one of your regular meetings of your session as moderator. It was enroute to Trinity that I truly felt the Spirit was upon me and that in my heart and soul that I needed to voice this movement of the Spirit to your Clerk of Session, Art Peoples.  I shared my thoughts with Art knowing fully that God was present in our midst. He responded with what I can only describe was amazing support and encouragement. Later that evening, I went on to share my sense of spiritual discernment with the full Session in the comfort of knowing that we all were being blessed by a special moment in our respective faith journeys. I believe with certainty that God has led us together and anticipate the friendships, ministry, and spiritual enrichment we will surely experience together.

As your new pastor, I see my responsibilities primarily as three-fold: preaching, leading, and serving. First, I take seriously the obligation to have something to preach from God’s Word weekly. To preach God’s Word faithfully and articulately will require time in prayerful study. Second, as your new Moderator, I have the obligation of leading the staff, church leadership, and congregation. This responsibility will entail building relationships, listening to leaders, learning about the church and area, seeking God’s vision for Trinity Presbyterian Church and communicating that vision often and with clarity. Third, I recognize my role as servant and minister to the congregation. I believe the pastor should be accessible and care for the congregation. I will gladly visit those in the hospital and those who are shut-in at home upon notice. I will make myself available to you for counsel, ministry, and prayer as I also equip staff and other church leaders to meet needs and serve the congregation. These three duties and the direction of the church flow from Jesus’ mission for the church—making disciples. In other words, the question by which I will judge my duties and responsibilities as well as the programs and ministries of Trinity Presbyterian Church is, “Are we making disciples?”

Accomplishing Christ’s mission at Trinity Presbyterian Church requires a biblical foundation, a proper reflection on our shared Christian heritage, and a willingness to embrace contemporary methods of communication. Twenty-first century America, as you likely know, poses many challenges for the local church. Only biblical and discerning congregations are able to meet them. Thus, I encourage everyone at Trinity to keep abreast of how 21st Century technology can be used to foster, encourage, and further proclaim the Good News of Christ to the people of Dallas and the surrounding area who, hopefully, will see us as the “light on the hill” of Back Mountain. 

As husband and wife, both Karin and I eagerly look forward to serving you all in the coming months!  We are overjoyed that God has led us together. Trinity Presbyterian Church is brimming with potential to do a lot for the benefit of the people who live in this most beautiful part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Thank you for your confidence in affirming me. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support. I look forward to getting to know each one of you in the coming days and weeks. And with this in mind, I should also mention that both Karin and I ask you to please feel free to invite us into your home at any time. Whether you're having tea, coffee, a family cookout or dinner, or a birthday or anniversary party, we would love to spend time getting to know you. We are not far from you as our home is located just up the road from Trinity at the following address:

Murray & Karin Thompson

2026 SR 29 South

Monroe Twp., PA 18657

“How far is that?”, you ask . . . just 10 miles. Please feel free to visit us, just call to make sure we’re at home. We would enjoy a visit from you!

Also, in the event you need to contact either of us at any time, please call either my cell phone or Karin’s at:  (724)-525-6008  Murray /  (570)332-5319  Karin

Lastly, I should also tell you that, as “retirees”, Karin and I have planned for a trip to Europe early this Fall that will encompass the dates of Sept. 17th through Oct. 5th. Three Sundays that will allow us to tour the regions of southern France and northern Italy with friends from previous trips to the European scene. We ask for your indulgence in this regard as this trip has been on our planning calendar for several months prior to our welcome to you all at Trinity Presbyterian Church. 

Until we see one another on Sunday, August 7th, I ask that you please pray that God will grant me wisdom, patience, understanding discernment, and a faithful dependence on him to accomplish his Will at Trinity Presbyterian Church as, together, we go forward into the future our Lord has planned for us.  

Laus Deo,

Murray