Connecting the Dots

I begin my work as interim associate pastor on Monday. In preparation for that, the pastor and I spoke on the phone this morning. Because things have worked out the way they have, I mentioned to Pastor John that I believe that this ministry is where God has led me. I knew the story only from my side.

Coming out of the front door of the library, where I have been going regularly, I noticed this lovely stone church directly across the street. Curious about the church, wanting to know their time of worship, I logged on to their website. I was amazed to see there that they were looking for an interim associate pastor. My heart skipped a beat, as I wondered whether or not such a church might be interested in a minister from another denomination. Then I noticed that the website's last entry was August, so I figured the position had probably already been filled.

It was the weekend, and I could not call and ask, so I worked on my resume and waited until Monday morning, when I went in personally. The church secretary said that the committee had just decided to look for a full time permanent person, which is not what I wanted. I knew it had been a long shot to begin with. I sort of shrugged off my disappointment but decided to leave the resume anyway, just in case.

I didn't hear anything from them, so it seemed clear that the position was filled, or they were not interested in someone from a different denomination. I was actually able to put it out of my mind, though by this time, I was actively praying that the Lord would give me work to do. For the past few months, I have had too much free time, and have longed for some meaningful, ministry assignment.

It was three weeks later when the phone rang. The Chair of the Taskforce Committee called and said they had decided they wanted to meet with me. I interviewed with the church committee and learned that I would also need to interview with the denominational committee on ministry as well. That was a long and complex process. But it is done.

In talking with Pastor John this morning, I learned that the day before I walked in and left my resume, the committee realized that the direction they had been headed was not going to work out. Having been without an associate pastor for most of the year, John was sitting there that day when I walked in, praying for the right answer, the right person.

A believing person has to assume that a listening God connected those prayer dots and brought us together, church looking for an interim pastor---pastor looking for an interim church.

That being the case, I trust that it is going to be a blessing, for us all. May it be so.

The Year of Weddings

2010 is the year of weddings in our family. My daughter Michelle is getting married in August, and Yo (youngest offspring) is getting married in September. Fortunately, I already have a dress I can wear to Michelle's wedding, so that has not been a problem. But finding a dress to wear to Yo's wedding has been driving me crazy. Now, they both have their dresses.

I have spent months and months, hours and hours on line searching. Mother of the bride dresses just don't seem to be made for me. They are much too immodest; much too sexy. They seem to be made for mothers who are 20 years younger than I am , and probably are, since Yo was born when I was much older than most other mothers with children her age.

And to make matters much worse, I am not a size anyone makes. I am in the larger size range, but also need a petite in order for a dress to fit the torso. A dress in the correct size range is pretty much non-existent. Recently, I found a dress I think will actually work. I am very hopeful that it will be a good fit. It looks like just what I need, in the right color. Is seems to be the correct size, and also made for a short person. It should arrive in the next few days. Oh, how I would like to have this particular task behind me.

Assuming the dress works, then the next challenge is----shoes! How can one wear an elegant, lovely fancy gown with old lady shoes? How will I be able to stand fancy shoes appropriate for such a dress? I'll probably have at least three pair on hand. One pair to wear when I am in my clergy robe officiating. One pair to wear when I am being introduced as the mother of the bride, and another pair to wear when I am dancing with Gerry!

Getting ready for weddings is no simple matter!

The Interview

Tomorrow I have an important interview. It is with a committee on ministry which will determine my suitability to serve in the congregation I hope to serve. An occasion of this sort [having been through it before] normally causes me great stress and anxiety. I am a bit nervous. Such an interview is not like other interviews. For one thing, the candidate is interviewed by a large group, in this case, about 18 people. For another thing, one is quizzed about their life story, their theology (who is Christ?) and their experience of ministry. My first inclination is to be nervous.

But instead of allowing myself to be affected by any negative or self-defeating thoughts, I will declare ahead of time that I am going to have an absolutely great time! Why shouldn't I just enjoy it? What a great opportunity. I get to talk about my faith, and who I am. I get to convince others of my authencity. Hopefully, that will be fun, Lord willing!

After all, I spent years serving on the very same committee in my own denomination, so surely I can handle this!

I do absolutely believe that this particular position is where God is leading me. Assuming that is indeed the case, then both the committee and I both mere vessels, moving us all toward God's will.

If it is not the case, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I stepped up in faith. I stepped out in faith. Whatever will be will be.

Being Googled

I had an interesting experience in early December. I went for an interview at a church where I hope to get a job. That always involves a committee. After we had been talking for a while, the chair of that committee said, "Well, I googled you." I had heard that people do that these days with prospective employees, so I wasn't all that surprised. But what came next was a complete shock. Earlier last year, I had served as interim pastor at a church which was quite technologically advanced. There were power point sermons and words to songs projected, sermons on-line, both printed and audio. The committee chair pulled out a copy of a sermon I had preached during those months. Of course, I wondered immediately....what sermon is it? Is it one I would have chosen, etc?

That was a huge learning experience for me, an experience I had before I began my blog. Now I understand fully that anything I write in my blog has to pass muster with any future parishioners or church committee. At the time of that interview, the blog wasn't there. Now when you google my name, the blog does show up, almost at the top.

There is also the matter of protecting the identify of my daughters, heretofore referred to only as "daughters". For three of them, if you googled their names, my name and my blog would not immediately come up, because their last names are different. I cannot use the real first name of the Youngest Offspring, who shares the same last name. To do so would mean than anyone who googled her would also get me. I am protecting her privacy, should she be googled. Therefore, hereafter, she shall be known as Yo (for youngest offspring).

We live in a google world, for sure, where trolls are at work [software trolling], connecting all the dots all the time! (Really!)