When writing his sermons, Reverend Andrew Peck-McClain regularly consulted a Lectionary, which is a collection of scripture. The Cornwall United Methodist Church pastor will be moving to Virginia at the end of June.
For the last two years, Reverend Andrew Peck-McClain has led the congregation, in worship, at the Cornwall United Methodist Church, but come July 1, Peck-McClain will no longer serve as pastor. He will be moving to Virginia with his wife Emily, their daughter Zoe, and a newborn where Peck-McClain is hopeful to land an appointment within the Virginia Conference. Earlier this year, Emily accepted a position as the assistant professor of Christian Formation Preaching and Worship at Eastern Mennonite Seminary.
In April 2012, Peck-McClain was appointed, by the Bishop, as the full-time pastor of Cornwall United Methodist Church. On June 9, he was ordained at the New York Annual Conference held at Hofstra University. He gave his first sermon on July 1.
“I think it went well,” Peck-McClain said of his first full time pastorship. “Had opportunities not come up in our lives I would have loved to see it through, Bishop willing, for several more years. That’s not what God had in store for us and for the church. I really enjoyed getting to know the people. I really appreciate their trust in inviting me into their lives during a funeral, or a time when they were in the hospital, or sick. I appreciate they trusted me to be a part of those intimate moments of their lives and to invite God into that space, to be with them, to support them, to help them grieve, whatever the case may be. I’ve definitely enjoyed getting to know the community.”
Among the highlights, Peck-McClain particularly enjoyed last summer’s potluck and praise – four services in July which included a meal and worship on the church’s front lawn, as well as the Palm Sunday parade which had children, choir members, and adults marching from the lower level of the church, into the parking lot, across the sidewalk, up the other side of the driveway and back into the church.
As Peck-McClain reflected on the last two years, he said what he’ll miss most are the people.
“Throughout Emily’s pregnancy, now that she’s been serving a church in Fort Montgomery on Sundays, people are always asking how Emily’s feeling, how she’s doing, and I will miss the care/doting on Zoe. They really have loved her and taken to the wonderful spirit that Zoe is. I will miss just being able to go for a walk to the dry cleaners, the pharmacy, or to pick up a newspaper and seeing people as I’m doing that. I feel that’s part of my ministry, as I go see some of the small businesses on Main Street, to connect with people there. I’ve enjoyed that about this town.”
One task Peck-McClain would have liked to accomplish was to introduce the congregation to incubator training – eight different sessions which help them look at different areas of their lives. In his next position, he is looking forward to being able to listen to the congregants, hear their stories, and help them discern where God is leading them. He’ll take a look at what ministries his next church offers and decide what, if any, have run their course and if new ideas need to be introduced.
Despite what he’s leaving behind, Peck-McClain is excited about the new chapter in his family’s life.
“It will be exciting to have both of us living out our call professionally. Hopefully it will be a place, with Emily teaching, where we can plant some roots for a while. Even if I’m serving some different churches, we’ll be in the same general area, we hope for a good amount of time. Hopefully that’s what God has in store for our lives as well. With having a second baby, we’re eager to plant some roots.”
Peck-McClain is appointed through June 30, but with some paternity leave time starting May 18, the last time he’ll be preaching and helping to lead worship actively will be May 11. Pastor Julia Weidemann-Winward will succeed Peck-McClain in July.
