By Pastor Tim White
It may come as a bit of a surprise to everyone that Pastor Linda Skinner is retiring in March 2022. She always seems so young and has been a big part of our Church family. I know she and Rich are looking forward to more time together and more time to spend with family and friends in other parts of the world.
To quote what she told Jackie and I, “I love my job and I love this church, but Rich is really looking forward to a bit of time together while we can still enjoy the adventures of traveling with the time and good health we have been blessed with. This will always be our church family and we will be here when we are not globetrotting.”
Linda came to our church on the second Sunday after our church began. She and Rich have always been a part of the core of Washington Cathedral. In the early years they hosted the weekly choir practice in their home. After the third year of our church she, Jackie and Naomi joined the paid staff of the church. Linda’s area of focus was on building TLC’s (small groups) and she really excelled at that. That ministry grew and at one time we had 150+ TLC’s in our church, not counting international congregations. She has always been a big help on the finance team. Thinking of all the highs and lows the church went through; we always had fun and laughter at our meetings. Later in the church she took on the Women’s Ministries, which was fruitful with very deep friendships cultivated. And yes, there were hospital calls, counseling, weddings, funerals, preaching and teaching.
We are so happy that Rich and Linda will continue to be a vital part of our church ministries and she will preach from time to time. Also, she will continue to play a vital role in women’s’ ministry as a volunteer.
We want to make sure that we are a church that allows our pastors to retire and still be a part of our church family, so please give them space especially as they take the first year to do a lot more traveling. That means no late-night calls or calling and dumping negativity on she or Rich. We want a long, healthy life for both of them.
We will be having a get together after the service on February 27th, where we can celebrate her life and ministry. We will announce this in services two weeks before that date.
Thank God, for Pastor Linda and her important role in the saga of Washington Cathedral.
Pastor Tim White
PS: Looking forward to starting our new sermon series this Sunday, “Words that Work” (Breakthrough words of Jesus.) beginning with Jesus words in Mark 1:17. You can join us for a worship at 10:30 am in Spirit Falls Sanctuary or catch us online at the same time at Facebook Live, YouTube Live, the WaCathedral App or our website www.wacathedral.org