GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR
REV. NICOLE ABDNOUR
August 4, 2024
Church history in congregational life can be helpfully studied by following the terms of particular pastors In any evaluation, the tenure of the Rev Dr Nicole Abdnour at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church is a remarkable one marked by faithful service, consistent employment of the study of scripture through Reformed scholarship, reliable, honest friendship, substantive, capable, pastoral presence in joy and sadness, and the demonstration and witness of Christ-like values in family and community life.
Consider these facts: at this writing, Nicole has the third longest tenure of all the pastors in PCPC’s nearly 100-year history, at 18 years; she was the second woman at PCPC called and installed as a pastor; on arrival in 2006 she was the youngest pastor in Presbytery, and on finishing her tenure she was the Moderator Elect of Presbytery She served through two U S wars, one profound global economic depression, a schism, multiple hurricanes, and a global pandemic Through it all, her steady, responsible, loving ministry strengthened the church, nurtured the faith, and supported the congregation. Our sincere gratitude to Nicole rightfully is an expression of our thanksgiving to God. She leaves to serve another parish at a moment when her talents, experience, and wisdom are best positioned to serve as the pastor of this significant call About her ministry I can say, “Learned Profession, Sacred Vocation ” And that God blessed us with that in authentic friendship is sign of God’s creative love. Nicole’s ministry at PCPC is a wonderful thing that God has done. She is a sign of God’s goodness to us!
In Faith, Hope and Love, Your Friend, John DeBevoise
GODSPEED TO THE ABDNOUR FAMILY
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
a Going Away Lunch
Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
At
July 30, the church staff prayed for Nicole and her family, and presented her with a communion chalice and plate
A LETTER FROM THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Dear Congregation,
In fellowship together we know the sadness of seeing the chapter of Nicole Abdnour's ministry amongst us come to an end. PCPC has been deeply blessed in her 18-year tenure with us.
With the Session we thank Nancy Calfee, Susan Peacock, Cheryl Isle, Jeanne Rowe, and Deon MacFayden for coordinating Nicole's lovely farewell reception on August 4th. The reception featured the theme "Ports of Call: New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Charleston."
The Session on behalf of the congregation presented Nicole with a new stole for ministry, a framed picture of PCPC, a framed stained glass seal of the PCUSA cross and seal, a pictorial book of their years at PCPC, and a financial gift in support of something for their new home. Nicole's children were each presented with a lovely memory book with pictures of their friends and time at PCPC.
In due order according to the polity of the Presbyterian Church at a congregational meeting on August 4, the congregation concurred in Nicole's request to Tampa Bay Presbytery to be released from her call at PCPC so that she may accept the call of the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church in South Carolina to be their pastor and Head of Staff. Tampa Bay Presbytery's General Executive, the Rev. Dr. Holly Dillon, was present for the vote and blessing.
Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us "there is a time for every season." After a time for saying goodbye to Nicole, the Session will begin the work of discerning PCPC's path forward with the Associate Pastor's position.
Even as we pray for Nicole in her new call, let us pray for God's guidance in PCPC's chapter ahead.
A Prayer of Gratitude and for the Journey Ahead
Generous and merciful God, from whom comes every good and perfect gift, today we thank you for the gift that you gave this congregation in calling Rev. Dr. Nicole Abdnour to ministry amongst us.
Gladly we recall the life of her mind, her commitment to the scriptures, the eloquence of her preaching, the nurture of her prayers, the substance of her faith, the beauty of her liturgies, her loyalty to the church, the compassion of her presence in joy and in sorrow, the helpfulness of her conversations, her friendship amongst us. Oh Lord you have blessed us with her gifts for ministry.
Your steadfast love has blessed us from generation to generation. Now we thank you for Nicole’s family shared with us, in Sunday gatherings, Wednesday night meals, preschool, Sunday School and youth groups, times at Camp and Conference centers, times of adventure, and study, holidays and laughter; for Chris, Malachi, Maliyah, Nevaeh, all who also became our friends, and who are interwoven with us now as your family, Holy God we are grateful.
We know, Holy Spirit, that you are a God who calls us. And we thank you for Nicole and her family‘s faithfulness in now discerning your call to a new chapter in ministry to the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church. We pray that you would bless them in this journey, and may they find a loving and sheltering community there. May it quickly become a new home for them, with friends in faith and fellowship. May you continue to walk in front of them and beside them as the Good Shepherd.
Now we pray that you will give Nicole the gifts, energy, and courage that she will need to fulfill the tasks to which you are calling her. And may your Holy Spirit use the memories and lessons of our time together at PCPC to faithfully guide her as she serves as their pastor.
We pray in the name of the great Shepherd of the Church, Jesus Christ. Amen
