It is with a mixture of grief and gratitude that I write to you today to share bittersweet news. After much prayerful discernment, I am heeding God’s call to serve another church, and will conclude my time as your Settled Pastor on Sunday, September 6^th.

For the past seven years, it has been my honor and joy to serve this congregation as its pastor. This church took a leap of faith to offer an untested, newly ordained Presbyterian professor a chance at ministry. Through the guidance of God and the trust you placed in me, I have been rewarded with opportunities to preach, teach, administer the sacraments, equip the faithful for the work of Christ’s ministry, and share in your life journeys. My family has also been blessed to be loved, cared for, sheltered, and supported by this congregation. Words can hardly express how grateful I am to God for all that this church has been for us.

 At my installation, Rev. Alex Will gave us a watchword for our ministry together: “With You.” Throughout many trying times—the COVID pandemic, grieving the deaths of beloved church members and family members, rainy Apple Harvest Fairs, seasons of stress and sadness—and many moments of great joy—the birth of two sons, the celebration of baptisms and weddings, sunny Apple Harvest Fairs, beautiful concerts, full sanctuaries, moments of quiet consolation shared with members in pastoral care—I’ve been “with you,” and you have been “with me.”

It is through this ministry with you that I began to sense God calling me to commit fully to pastoral ministry. Having one foot in the world of the university and one foot in the church was my dream when I came to Union. Over time, God gave me a new dream: to lead a church in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the denomination of my ordination, and make ministry my full-time profession. God has provided me that opportunity at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, which is located in northeastern New Jersey. This past Sunday, the congregation of that church voted to call me as their next Senior Pastor and Head of Staff.

Whitney, the boys, and I are sad to leave our church and community here in East Walpole. In the coming weeks, there will be time to say our goodbyes, to reflect, pray, and celebrate what we have shared together these past seven years. Along with my family, I will also be taking my planned sabbath time away from August 20-29, but will be with you in worship this Sunday (August 16^th), August 30^th, and September 6^th.

As we prepare for this time of transition, I want to affirm the resilience and dedication of Union’s members and lay leaders. This congregation has been faithfully living together in worship and service to East Walpole and surrounding communities for nearly 150 years. Many ministers have come and gone; nevertheless, the church persists, because the people are the church.

Part of this process is the establishment of boundaries that will enable both the next minister at Union to thrive, and for me to lean into my new call. As of September 7^th, 2026, I will no longer be able to perform pastoral duties, including presiding over baptisms, weddings, or funerals, for a period of 3 years, per the guidance of the Southern New England Conference.

Pastoral relationships may end, but friendships do not. The Shepherd Family will treasure you all, our friends in Christ, and joyfully remember this season in our lives and the life of Christ’s church, here in this little corner of God’s Kingdom called “Union.”

I give thanks for all of you: for your faithfulness in Christ, your dedication and service in ministry, and the love you show one another. May you continue to love, welcome, and serve all along life’s journey, trusting the promise of Jesus: “I am with you always.”

In Grace and Peace,

Pastor Shepherd

Rev. Dr. Aaron Shepherd