Sunday, July 01, 2018

Kreston Lipscomb retires

After forty-five years of pastoral ministry Kreston Lipscomb will be retiring on July 15, 2018. A reception and meal will be held at the meetinghouse of Springfield First Church of the Brethren on Saturday, July 14, beginning at 3:30 p.m. A potluck meal begins at 5 p.m. Kreston will also preach Sunday morning of July 15th.

Kreston served as pastoral staff at several Chicago-area United Methodist congregations and also was a chaplain at Northern Illinois University in the mid-70s. He graduated from Bethany Theological Seminary in 1978. That same year, he was licensed to the ministry in the Church of the Brethren at the York Center congregation. Kreston was ordained by the Southern Ohio District Church of the Brethren in August of 1979. He then pastored the Lower Miami Church of the Brethren in Dayton, OH from 1979 to 1986.

Kreston began his work as pastor of the Springfield congregation on July 15, 1986, and is completing thirtytwo years in that role. He served in numerous positions in our district, preached at Annual Conference, and worked with ecumenical and interfaith organizations in Springfield, Illinois.

In the midst of his pastoral journey he also married Elizabeth Scudder Lipscomb. They have three daughters, with two grandchildren and a third on the way.

* * * * * *

July 14, 2018 at First Church of the Brethren, 2115 Yale Blvd., Springfield, IL 62703
3:30 - 4 p.m. Informal gathering to visit with Kres, his family, and friends
4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Recognition of Kres’s service
5 p.m. Dinner provided by the congregation
July 15, 2018 Kres’s final day at the pulpit. Although there will acknowledgement of his retirement, he says “Let worship be worship” on that day.

We would love to fill the church both days with those who love and wish to recognize Kres’s service. We’ll make room and food for everyone!

By the way, he also doesn’t want to use the word program to describe the Saturday event. I’m going to be spending time with the online thesaurus!

Thank you so much for all of your support of First Church as we move forward.

Evelyn Taylor