Greetings Beloved Washington Farm Church Family,

As I prepare to say farewell after four blessed years as your pastor, my heart is both heavy with grief and overflowing with gratitude for the love, care, and warmth you have shown my family and me. From our very first Sunday together, you welcomed us with open arms, and we have felt truly at home in this community of faith.

I am deeply thankful for the countless memories we have created together—memories I will carry with me to my next church. Who could forget our joyful and sometimes playful worship services, including sermons on the Grinch, the Duck-billed Platypus, and even the Easter Bunny! We’ve gathered for prayer, shared in Lenten Soup Suppers, walked the Good Friday Stations of the Cross, and enjoyed fellowship meals – all a testament to the deep bonds that unite us.

It has been a blessing to work alongside so many of you at Music Camp, the Christmas Tree Lot, packing food sacs for Woodley Hills and Phoenix Rising, and throughout all of our youth and young adult mission projects. Together, we have grown as disciples of Christ through Bible Studies and Sunday Night Live youth studies, supporting one another in faith and friendship.

We have celebrated baptisms, confirmations, and new graduates as they step into their futures. We have formed lifelong friendships and, with heavy hearts, said goodbye to beloved members who have moved away or gone home to be with the Lord. Through every joy and every sorrow, we have grown stronger as a church, welcoming new families into our Washington Farm family.

My family and I will miss you all dearly, and we look forward to hearing from you in the months and years to come. To that end, I am sharing my new contact information (my 571 number will be disconnected after our move) and our new home address. If you ever find yourselves near Ocean City, Bethany, or Rehoboth beaches on a Sunday, please know that you will always be welcome at our new church home, Millville United Methodist in Millville, DE.

Although I’ll be away from the church campus after Sunday, June 14th, I will continue to serve as your pastor until June 30th. I will be attending Annual Conference in Harrisonburg, VA, from June 15th to 20th, and after that, I will officially become a Delaware resident. Please feel free to reach out to me by phone, text, or email during this time. I will leave the phone number of the pastor covering for me on pastoral care matters with Eileen Fraedrich, Bev Card, and Sam Barnes, should any needs arise. And if there is an emergency, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Until then, let us enjoy our final Sunday together this Sunday celebrating in worship, fellowshipping at our church picnic, honoring our graduates, and giving thanks for the ministry we have shared these past four years. May God’s richest blessings be with each of you. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your pastor.

With love and gratitude,

Pastor Claire
Home Address: 33954 Sea Otter Way, Millsboro, DE 19966
Cell Phone: 703-861-8472

This Sunday, after worship and a brief Charge Conference, we will gather for our Summer Picnic. The church will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, mustard, ketchup, relish, dessert, and water. The congregation is invited to bring appetizers, additional condiments, side dishes, and extra drinks of their choice.

The hamburgers and hot dogs will be cooked outside, but we will enjoy the meal inside.

Picnic setup will take place on Saturday, June 13, at 10 AM. Please plan to stay and help with cleanup after the picnic — many hands make light work.

Last Sunday during Sunday Night Live, our Youth and Young Adults surprised Pastor Claire with a party. They ordered dinner from her favorite restaurant, designed and shopped for special gifts and decorations, coordinated behind the scenes to keep everything a surprise, ran errands, decorated, and poured their gratitude into an evening honoring the love and care she has shown them over the past four years.

Gifts included a custom Sunday Night Live flag and sweatshirt to remind her of the community she helped shape. They are truly thankful for the time they spent with her.

Pastor Claire is taking the youth and young adults out for a final SNL this Sunday, June 14, at 5:45 PM.

There will be no SNL on Father’s Day, June 21.

On June 28, two dads of young adults, Drew Barnes and Bob Enck, will lead a fun evening for the group.

Our final Woodley Hills weekend meal packing of the school year will take place Today, Thursday, June 11, at 10 AM. This ministry has been a steady, heartfelt way for Washington Farm to support students experiencing homelessness, and we are grateful for every hand that has helped pack throughout the year.

Come help finish the school year strong. If you cannot make it that morning, keep an eye out for other opportunities to serve the Woodley Hills community during the summer and again in the fall.

Help us take an important step as we prepare to welcome Pastor Keiko. Please join us for a brief Charge Conference on June 14, right after worship and just before the church picnic, as we review and approve Pastor Keiko’s compensation package. Everyone is welcome to attend, and all church members, including confirmed youth, are eligible to vote.

This week in worship, Pastor Claire offers her final sermon at Washington Farm, exploring David's famous last words from 2 Samuel 23:1‑7 and the faith legacies we leave with each other. We'll hear a reminder that a faithful life leaves traces of God’s grace in every relationship and every act of service. Be part of this meaningful morning as we celebrate Claire’s ministry and the legacy we continue to build together.

This week’s altar flowers are offered by the church as we celebrate the accomplishments of our Washington Farm graduates and give thanks for Pastor Claire’s four years of ministry, leadership, and love in our community.

Thanks to those serving in worship this week!
Liturgist - Migel Pineda-Cruz
Ushers - Josie Barnes and Ransford Ankomah 
Acolyte - Hava Rose Molihan
Music Director - Kevin Sapp 
Organist - Beth Evans
Altar Flowers - Bev Card