Rev. Bob Pryor

Dear FPC family,

The Rev. Robert (Bob) Pryor, long time friend and Parish Associate at our church, ended his long and rich earthly journey on August 17. Please join me, all the members and friends of this congregation, and countless others around the world in giving thanks to God for this special, gracious man’s unique life and ministry. He will be missed.

Bob served our Lord in settings from Iran to California to northern New Jersey. In retirement he made FPC a new church home and shared his person and gifts with us.

Bob clearly loved the people of the church, whether he greeted them in church or out and about in the community. In pastoral care, Bob brought comfort, grace and support. In leading worship, he communicated the love and grace of Christ and a call to love as we have been loved. As phrased by a colleague in ministry, Rev. Greg Horn, all that Bob did was grounded in his absolute certainty in the ultimate goodness of God through Jesus Christ. We mourn with his wife, Mary Lou, and his wonderful family, and we join them in celebrating not only the privilege of sharing life with Pastor Bob, but also the great news that he is at home now, all the time, in God’s good and loving arms.

At this time, the family is holding a private service on Sept. 12 with a more public celebration of Bob’s life and ministry to be set in the future. On Sunday, Sept. 13 we will share a Memorial Moment in our worship service to give thanks for the life of Bob and for our confidence that the God who gave him to us now holds him securely.

As a fitting farewell to Pastor Bob, below are the words of parting and benediction with which he ended every worship service:

“Go out into the world in peace
Have courage
Hold on to that which is the truth.
Never return a person evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted.
Support the weak.
Help the suffering
Honor every man, woman, and child
and rejoice in the power of God in your life.”