“I am about to do a new thing; do you not perceive it?”
Isaiah 43:19

She asked the best questions, by far, of any candidate for the position of St. John’s Associate Pastor. The Search Committee was impressed by her thoughtful responses, careful listening, and gentle demeanor. In her profile, she stated that she understands her call to ministry to be about “cultivating an inclusive, intergenerational community that seeks to live out the love and justice of Jesus.”

The Search Committee unanimously recommended Sarah Klockowski for the position of Associate Pastor, and the congregation has affirmed that recommendation. Indeed, God is “doing a new thing” and thanks be to God, Pastor Sarah will join us in December! Born and raised in New England, Sarah has also lived in Texas, New York, and on the island of Saipan, where she served as a youth pastor and high school Bible teacher for five years. Pennsylvania will be a whole new adventure for her, so we pray that she lands and settles well here.

Sarah holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, with a concentration in Social Ethics. Her scholarly work focused on developing a theology of fat liberation. Since her faith journey led her to the UCC seven years ago, she has served as Ministry Associate at the First Parish in Lincoln, Massachusetts. It is clear that her community at First Parish has enthusiastically supported her journey and will have a hard time saying goodbye!

Outside of the local church, Sarah organizes with clergy and faith leaders for justice in Palestine and is a Board Member of Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA). She enjoys spending time in the New England woods, spontaneous road trips with unknown destinations, and singing karaoke. (I sense a Karaoke Night in St. John’s near future!)

Sarah has been a Member in Discernment with the Metropolitan Boston Association (Southern New England Conference UCC). This is the process that all clergy in the UCC go through in order to prepare for ordained ministry. She will be ordained in her home church of First Parish in Massachusetts on Sunday, October 25. So, she will come to us “hot off the ordination press” in December. While she has been serving as a Ministry Associate, this will be her first call as an ordained pastor. I and some of the members of the Search Committee will be present for the ordination to assure her community there that she will, indeed, be in good hands. If you are interested in joining us, please let me know. I will also be collecting money for an ordination
gift from St. John’s. Please see me if you want to contribute, or mark “Sarah’s Ordination” on a check or envelope when you give.

It feels fitting that St. John’s will continue its long history of making space for the gifts and graces of new clergy person. Rev. Sue Bertolette and Rev. Addie Stong both began their ministry at St. John’s directly after seminary, and other ministers and students have been impacted by their internships or time with us. And look how well that turned out!

As a church, we don’t just receive the ministry of our pastors. We also have the sacred duty of supporting and helping to form them. In a time in which so many churches across the country are in decline, it is a profound gift to offer a new minister the opportunity to shape and be shaped by an active, engaged congregation of people who truly are open to the ways in which “God Is Still Speaking” among us. I know you will warmly welcome Pastor Sarah, receive her ministry, and together continue building the kind of Beloved Community Jesus calls us to in this time.

In addition to worship, preaching, and some of the general work of ministry, Pastor Sarah’s job will focus on faith formation across the generations, helping to vision and develop programming and connection for children, youth, families, and adult education. She will also be providing pastoral care for our homebound, help us with the installation of our new technology, and generally support efforts to make St. John’s more accessible and welcoming.

I am deeply grateful for the work of the Search Committee. Liz Rivett and Bill Cagney deftly chaired the team which included Sue Clemens, Margie Jewell, Janet Morton, and Carolyn Rivett, with Alan Malachowski and Bill Leslie joining the process as ex-officio in their roles as President and Vice President. Having one of our youth on the Committee was essential and Carolyn did a superb job asking questions in the interview, and had excellent instincts and insights. We would often start each post-interview reflection with the question, “Carolyn, what do you think?”

Thanks be to God for the ways in which the Spirit is at work in and among us, for this next chapter in St. John’s story of faith and service, and for all ways in which we are – each one of us – being called to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8)

In faith and with joy,
Pastor Linda

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