The congregation at the Claremont United Church of Christ, Congregational, has said goodbye to Senior Pastor Rob Patton, who resigned from his post earlier this month. He submitted his resignation after a prolonged medical leave.

“I cannot fully express my emotions connected with this transition,” Rev. Patton wrote in a letter to the public.

Rev. Patton came to CUCC in April 2008 after serving at St. Stephen United Church of Christ in his native Ohio. In the years following he has immersed himself in numerous organizations throughout the San Gabriel region and Claremont community, including the Institutional Ethics Board of Pomona Valley Medical Center Hospital, the Claremont Interfaith Council and Interfaith Working Group for Middle East Peace.

CUCC will be holding a worship service of celebration and reception tomorrow, Sunday, February 3, at 10 a.m. to honor Rev. Patton’s service. There will be no 8:15 a.m. service.