[Paul is speaking to the Ephesian elders] “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
A somewhat wisened and caustic pastor once quipped, “You can please all the people. You please some people when you come. You please others when you are there. And you please still others when you leave.” That was a somewhat jaded view of serving as a pastor. But in my experience it is more true than I might wish to think. On more than one occasion, after I’ve left a church that I was serving people would come out of the woodwork and begin volunteering and serving in the church. In every case, also, when I’ve served a church, there have been people who love me and are truly happy I’m there. Still others – during those same years and experiencing the same decisions – have been upset with me and my ministry. I’m not foolish enough to believe that no one was relieved when I’ve left a church, either to retire or to serve another church.
In every case, however, I’ve not embraced the dismissive “you can please all the people…” mentality. I have left four churches to serve a different congregation, and one to retire. In each case I have bid a heartfelt farewell to the people and they to me. Not necessarily tearful – with the exception of leaving Holy Cross, Arlington to come to St. John, Cypress. That was a difficult goodbye for us – even though we felt certain God was leading us to Cypress.
Paul, however, is bid farewell with tears. And it wasn’t so much that they were sorry to see him go in that they would miss him. Luke tells us that they were sorry to see him go because they knew they would not see his face again. He was facing arrest, imprisonment, and likely death. His was not a farewell to happier places and times. And they grieved for him and themselves.
But this is no selfish grief. It wasn’t a matter only of their personal sadness and loss. It was a matter of grief that this man of God was being so unjustly treated. They knew he had acted faithfully, ethically, and morally. They knew that jealousy and lack of faith drove the attempts at discrediting Paul’s ministry. They knew that people were seeking to have their influence over the people in the churches Paul had planted. And they knew that Paul wouldn’t be there to defend the true faith – though he would write letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and to Philemon from his Roman prison. Still yet his going was a loss.
But even as we consider powerful missionaries or much-loved pastors leaving beloved people, we must also remember that graveyards are full of indispensable people. There will be others to carry on the mission and keep the church moving forward.
All this is especially important to remember given our pastor has resigned. It’s a sad day for us all, and a day for prayer and thanksgiving for God’s work through him and that God’s work will continue on with those who continue to serve. God of mercy, hold us all in your love. Amen
David Bahn - Reflections 
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