Dear Sisters and Brother in Christ,

 

As Pentecost approaches, I hope that you and your congregation are experiencing the presence of Risen Christ and the promise he calls us to.

 

Yesterday I visited our friend and colleague, Associate Conference Minister Andy Gustafson, at a Boston hospital.  While many in the Conference are aware of Andy’s circumstances from his postings on Facebook, the difficult news I am writing to share will come as a shock to some.  However Andy, his wife Carole and I agreed that telling you - along with others who are connected with the Mass Conference - was the right thing to do.

 

Andy has been fighting cancer for about six months.  It began as esophageal cancer, and after both radiation and chemo, he has recently learned that the cancer has spread.   He is planning some additional, limited, treatment aimed at alleviating his symptoms.

 

Please keep Andy and his family in your prayers, and lift him in prayer at your church on Sundays.  Also, pray for Andy’s home church, Townsend Congregational Church, who have been incredibly responsive to this difficult situation.  And please pray for your Conference staff.  Andy has shared his gifts with the Mass Conference for ten years, and those of us privileged to work with him every day can’t say enough good things about Andy!  The depth of his faithfulness is so inspirational; his laughter so contagious; his intellect so sharp; and his love of the church is without limit.

 

Andy would welcome your notes and cards.  Please mail them to the conference, and we will get them to him:

 

If you have any questions which you would normally direct to Andy, please contact his Administrative Assistant, Karen Methot ( MethotK@macucc.org ), and she will direct you to the right person.

 

Thank you for keeping Andy and his family in your prayers.

 

Faithfully,

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