McCauley: Community welcomes back Bartels, bids farewell to interim pastor

Pastor Lawrence Bartel with Star Livingston at McCauley Mountain. Reed Proper photo

The Niccolls Church congregation and friends celebrated the return of Pastor Lawrence Bartel and his family following a four month sabbatical, and said farewell to Interim Pastor Joanne Bartel at a barbecue picnic at McCauley Mountain on Sunday, July 1st.

The celebration included a performance by the bluegrass band, Off the Wall, and a special combination “welcome back” and “farewell” toast delivered by Kenneth Strike

“Lawrence, Amy, Jens, and Lydia welcome home. We hope that you are much refreshed and renewed by your sabbatical experience. We can’t wait to hear all about it. And we missed you. And we hope you missed us just a little as well,” Strike said.

“Lawrence, you will be pleased to know that despite the excellent job Joanne did in filling in for you, we did not forget you. I heard no one say “Lawrence who?”  However, it should be noted that it is no longer clear to whom the expression “the other Pastor Bartel” refers. We are sure that time will clarify this ambiguity,” he added.

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