THE LAST SERMON—THE REV. BOB GOOSSEN RETIRES

Posted July 30, 2024

The Reverend Bob Goossen gave his last sermon on Sunday, July 14. Ohio United Church in Aliquippa gave him a fond farewell while looking forward to welcoming their new permanent pastor in August. This was Bob’s third time serving a church as a transitional pastor and its conclusion signaled his time to retire.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Nebraska, Bob learned quickly the importance of hard work at an early age. After graduating college, he became a teacher of industrial arts or “shop” and a vocational instructor. When he felt the call to ministry, he entered Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. 

He was installed and ordained as a minister of the PC(USA) when he began serving Bethel Church in Kiskiminetas Presbytery. Eighteen years later, Bob moved into Beaver-Butler Presbytery when he began serving Crestview Community Church in Callery in 2011. That position changed to part-time when he also began serving First Church in New Brighton for two years.

For the next five years he served as a transitional pastor to Park Church in Beaver, North Sewickley Church in Ellwood City and Ohio United in Aliquippa. 

After thirty-one years in ministry, Bob has lost track of the number of sermons, baptisms, weddings and funerals. But he has fond memories of being actively involved in construction and renovation projects in many of those churches where he put his carpentry and handyman skills to use.

Those skills also were put to use on the many mission trips he participated in and when he chaired our presbytery’s Administration Committee. During that time, the exterior of the Presbytery Center received a fresh new look. 

Bob has also served on the Preparation for Ministry Committee and he has chaired and is currently still serving on the Ministry and Vocation Committee.

Though many pastors continue to serve the church in some form after retirement, Bob looks forward to a well deserved break. He will stay plenty busy in his new workshop where he will have more time for building and fixing things. 

We thank Bob for his service to our Lord and this presbytery and wish him a very happy retirement.