so...have a children's time to write, an invocation, a children's worship to plan, for tomorrow. not much, but enough. I have a godly play story to memorize for the children's worship...and it will be fine.
I was struck last week, in collegial meeting, when one person said, I did the associate pastor thing for a few years and hated it, so I started looking to be a solo in a congregation...and am so happy doing this.
whoah. I realize how little credit I give myself sometimes. I always think I need to learn one more thing to be truly prepared to be the solo leader of a flock, but I have to stop and say--wait! I have literally twenty years of experience as a church professional, and seven of those are in sacramental ministry. shoot! I mean dang! What else am I waiting for?
Don't get me wrong. I really, really, really love the work I get to do with children. I loved teaching bible/religion for eight years before seminary, and I loved the four years of youth ministry I did before that. I loved my three years of seminary, focusing on worship and arts and ministry and children's spirituality. my seven years of ministry in three...well, now on my fourth, but two were simultaneous (lest you think I am a short timer) and I really love this work in my new congregation, but I totally know what my colleague meant, too. I think I have been very deliberate in listening to where I have been called...and each place, congregation/campus, chaplaincy, new church start, and now established traditional NE church has been the right place for me. I don't think anyone could be more fortunate than me in the amazing places of ministry I have landed. I have to be honest, though, the part I miss...and have missed in all of them is more involvement in worship, aka preaching, planning the whole of a service. It is funny, ironic, even, the most involved in worship was in my first congregation. In any case, that doesn't mean that can't happen where I am now...I will just need to find my place in all of it.
huh. who knew I was thinking about that this morning? when I sat down to the computer, I was really thinking about the RED SOX and how they pulled it out last night!
Liturgy w/communion for April 21, 2024 (Easter 4 - B)
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Texts: Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18
*Call to Worship*
We gather in the presence of our God:
*where grieving people and children...
4 days ago
1 comment:
A pastor working solo seems to be much easier than working in a team or as two ministers in one parish. There have been troubles galore in nearby situations - such as, over a year ago both ministers had to leave because they hadn't spoken to each other in several months! Both were middle-aged, middle-class, Anglo, Uniting Church, theological views not quite similar - but they so much in common - except one was a woman and one was a man! I liked them both in their different ways, and we never twigged that there was a real problem in communication because they hid it so well. Not a healthy way to be.
w.
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