Send Forth Ripples of Faith
Celebrating the Gifts of Michael W. Caine
July 26, 2009

We filled the sanctuary of Garden City Community Church to celebrate the gifts of Michael W. Caine as he left his eight-year tenure as our Regional Conference Minister and headed south to accept a call as pastor at the Old First Reformed Church in Philadelphia.

Old First is among Philadelphia’s oldest religious institutions and the mother church of the German Reformed denomination, one of the four church bodies that created the UCC.  With almost 300 years of ministry and a location in the Old City section of Center City (a few blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell), old First is a progressive, diverse, service-oriented congregation committed to urban ministry.  Visit its web site at http://www.oldfirstucc.org/ to follow Michael’s ministry there.

Beautiful organ music and prayer opened the celebration.	We heard Psalm 139 – “O Lord, you have searched me and known me…”	We are welcomed.

The UCC Metro Mass Choir filled the sanctuary with music.	And solo voices added their beauty.

The celebrants were of all ages.	Greetings and thanks from our host church, Garden City Community Church.	Greetings and thanks from our Metro Executive Administrator.

Greetings and thanks from our Metro Board President.	Now Michael has a beautiful new robe.

Greetings and thanks from Judson Memorial Church, Michael’s home church.	And now Michael has a boa, Judson’s traditional gift for those leaving this church.	The Mass Choir and soloist again share their musical gifts.

Michael takes it all in.	Michael reflected on how much he received from those to whom he ministered, “the beloved”.

And he noted that when he came to the Southeast Region, he had brown hair.	Clergy gathered to lay hands on Michael.	And there was a surpise song for Michael.

Our song had a dynamic leader.	Following the benediction, we greeted Michael at a reception in the Garden City Fellowship Hall.

Photos by John and Lucy Werner

We’ll All Survive!

 Verse 1
When the e-mail came, we were so surprised
To learn dear Michael, you’d no longer be our go-to guy.
You’d decided to move on
To further stretch your wings to grow.
So with this song
We say “So long!”

Verse 2
As our RCM, you have helped us grow,
How to cast our nets and work to help our churches grow.
You have led us in true faith.
Each Association’s a better place.
And we’ll survive!
We’ll all survive!

Refrain
So now go.
Go out the door.
We’re gonna miss you
‘Cause you’re not with us any more.
It’s been great while you were here.
You’ve touched us all in these eight years.
And we’ll survive!
We’ll all survive!

Oh (response – Oh)

Oh (response – Oh)

So now go.
Go out the door.
We’re gonna miss you
‘Cause you’re not with us any more.
It’s been great while you were here.
You’ve blessed all – through joy and tears.
We will survive!
We’ll all survive.  Hey hey!

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