BROWNTOWN - It will be a long couple of weeks for the Rev. Ray Sowersby and his wife, Caroline, as they prepare to leave Browntown.
After seven years at Peace United Church of Christ, Browntown, they'll return to England, May 31.
This Sunday, the church plans a special service at 10 a.m., followed by a farewell dinner.
"I think Kleenex stocks are going to go up this weekend," Caroline said, jokingly.
Their furniture was packed and taken away last week, Caroline said. Ironically, she pointed out, the company in charge of shipping their furniture back to England is named "Mayflower."
They recently decided it was time to go back home. The main reason, Caroline said, was to be near their 10 grandchildren. They've been away from them for a long time and feel it's time to be closer to them.
"Caroline wants to be a proper grandmother, again," Ray said. "We're both missing our grandchildren."
For the past seven years, the congregation has been a family to them. The church members welcomed them and embraced them, Ray said.
"We're very grateful for all they've done for us," he said. "We'll miss the people. We'll miss being in the Monroe area. It's bitter sweet for us."
Caroline said it will be difficult to leave their church family.
"This is the hardest church we've ever left," she said.
The church, which has been a fixture in the community since 1887, is ready for new leadership, Sowersby said.
"We've helped kick-start the church, and now we feel it's time for someone else to take it on," Ray said. "We didn't want to just be doing it for doing-it's sake."
Their ministry outreach extended past regular church duties. For the past several years, Ray was a chaplain at the Green County Sheriff's Department. The sheriff's department gave him a plaque for his years of service.
"They really didn't need to do that," he said. "I enjoyed doing it."
They plan to come back and visit the church sometime, Caroline said.
Ray said it's a good feeling to know that so many people want them to stay.
"It's probably better to go when they want you to stay, then to stay after they want you to go," he said, with a laugh.
After seven years at Peace United Church of Christ, Browntown, they'll return to England, May 31.
This Sunday, the church plans a special service at 10 a.m., followed by a farewell dinner.
"I think Kleenex stocks are going to go up this weekend," Caroline said, jokingly.
Their furniture was packed and taken away last week, Caroline said. Ironically, she pointed out, the company in charge of shipping their furniture back to England is named "Mayflower."
They recently decided it was time to go back home. The main reason, Caroline said, was to be near their 10 grandchildren. They've been away from them for a long time and feel it's time to be closer to them.
"Caroline wants to be a proper grandmother, again," Ray said. "We're both missing our grandchildren."
For the past seven years, the congregation has been a family to them. The church members welcomed them and embraced them, Ray said.
"We're very grateful for all they've done for us," he said. "We'll miss the people. We'll miss being in the Monroe area. It's bitter sweet for us."
Caroline said it will be difficult to leave their church family.
"This is the hardest church we've ever left," she said.
The church, which has been a fixture in the community since 1887, is ready for new leadership, Sowersby said.
"We've helped kick-start the church, and now we feel it's time for someone else to take it on," Ray said. "We didn't want to just be doing it for doing-it's sake."
Their ministry outreach extended past regular church duties. For the past several years, Ray was a chaplain at the Green County Sheriff's Department. The sheriff's department gave him a plaque for his years of service.
"They really didn't need to do that," he said. "I enjoyed doing it."
They plan to come back and visit the church sometime, Caroline said.
Ray said it's a good feeling to know that so many people want them to stay.
"It's probably better to go when they want you to stay, then to stay after they want you to go," he said, with a laugh.