So...countdown to vacation.
Three days to get everything all together...sometimes it feels like you need to take time off to get ready for vacation! It doesn't help that we have all these animals--the battle against the hair and hair balls is constant.
My Sunday went well....
I think that my sermon was very good, and the service as a whole was connected and flowed. We had children singing and cool things from the choir. My congo loved it. My visitors--???---I have no idea. At lunch we had a nice light discussion, and they made favorable comments.
Yesterday, I worked with my personal trainer, and I had a boxing lesson. It was GREAT. Fun...and I am still sore. I do like having someone to work with me, and I am learning alot.
I finally got my flowers in yesterday, and planted some tomatoes. Here's hoping I have better luck than last year.
Today is a dreary and wet day. Will we ever have several days of sun?
Trying to decide what "craft" to take along with me. Knitting? Crocheting bracelets? I always want to have something to do besides reading.
Time to walk doggies. Then off to Zumba.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Pastor
I have been thinking a lot lately about pastoral identity. How do you present as a pastor, if you are one? Or, how do you view your pastor?
For example, I had this great conversation with my former colleague at dinner last week. He has a priestly sort of pastoral identity. What I mean is that he really sees The Pastor as a conduit to connecting to God. He just happens to be the one filling that The Pastor role. Well, not any more, but he will fill that role as The Pastor somewhere else. We talked about how he insisted that his office not be called Joe's Office (psuedonym) but rather The Pastor's Office. He really did this well, filling The Pastor identity role. It gave me so much insight into our past four years together. It was like a light bulb went off in my head. Yes--and my colleague is a gifted pastor and leader. It was difficult at times, but over all , good.
On the other hand, I think of myself as a pastor...I suppose that is because I am currently an associate pastor, but when I think back on 11 years of ministry, it is always how I have approached my calls. As a pastor I am a part of my congregation, but with a different call and role in it. I have to have certain boundaries, because I am bound to confidentiality. However, I think of my office, as well, my office. Karla's office. When I preach, I am very personal about my own journey--a traveler alongside of, maybe at times in different places. I focus on faith and spirituality so I can share what I have learned with my congregants. I know there is a certain sense of authority I embody, but that is because I am charged with certain ministries and tasks over which I have authority....I don't think I am articulating this all that well. But I think, that when I am in my own congregation, I will still think of myself as a pastor in the congregation, maybe even the pastor of the congregation, but not The Pastor.
What about you?
For example, I had this great conversation with my former colleague at dinner last week. He has a priestly sort of pastoral identity. What I mean is that he really sees The Pastor as a conduit to connecting to God. He just happens to be the one filling that The Pastor role. Well, not any more, but he will fill that role as The Pastor somewhere else. We talked about how he insisted that his office not be called Joe's Office (psuedonym) but rather The Pastor's Office. He really did this well, filling The Pastor identity role. It gave me so much insight into our past four years together. It was like a light bulb went off in my head. Yes--and my colleague is a gifted pastor and leader. It was difficult at times, but over all , good.
On the other hand, I think of myself as a pastor...I suppose that is because I am currently an associate pastor, but when I think back on 11 years of ministry, it is always how I have approached my calls. As a pastor I am a part of my congregation, but with a different call and role in it. I have to have certain boundaries, because I am bound to confidentiality. However, I think of my office, as well, my office. Karla's office. When I preach, I am very personal about my own journey--a traveler alongside of, maybe at times in different places. I focus on faith and spirituality so I can share what I have learned with my congregants. I know there is a certain sense of authority I embody, but that is because I am charged with certain ministries and tasks over which I have authority....I don't think I am articulating this all that well. But I think, that when I am in my own congregation, I will still think of myself as a pastor in the congregation, maybe even the pastor of the congregation, but not The Pastor.
What about you?
Sunday, June 5, 2011
the end.
So,
Today we had our farewell worship and liturgy for my colleague, who although not technically retiring (he is going on to do f/t interim ministry) we (the congo) treated it like a retirement, since he has been with the congo for 16 years.
The last month has been a month of lasts, for him. I decided my role was to be Support, and to make sure every detail that perhaps a lay person hadn't thought of, would be taken care of. Our moderator, and the farewell team were phenomenal. The whole congo was phenomenal....and worship today was beautiful. The hymns, the music, my colleagues message, communion by intinction with chalices and patens made by our 91 year old potter (who started to learn pottery four years ago), to the farewell liturgy. Lovely gifts....and a surprise tie dye t-shirt and pocket altar from the youth really blew him away. I feel that it all has been healthy and lovely....and for my own closure with him..., well, we went out for bombay sapphire martinis and greek food. YUM. And, delightful.
So, we enter into the summer. Next week, on Pentecost, there will be guests in worship that I know of (you know what I mean).....and then two weeks of vacation in Hawaii. The rest of the summer I will be the pastor and head of staff (staff of two, hah!) until the interim arrives near the end of August. I will have to visit my 'rents at some point, because their health is so, well, tentative.
I imagine, I will have some decisions facing me.
For now,
I am just glad,
that the farewells have been generous and thorough.
And,
now, a new chapter begins.
Amen.
Today we had our farewell worship and liturgy for my colleague, who although not technically retiring (he is going on to do f/t interim ministry) we (the congo) treated it like a retirement, since he has been with the congo for 16 years.
The last month has been a month of lasts, for him. I decided my role was to be Support, and to make sure every detail that perhaps a lay person hadn't thought of, would be taken care of. Our moderator, and the farewell team were phenomenal. The whole congo was phenomenal....and worship today was beautiful. The hymns, the music, my colleagues message, communion by intinction with chalices and patens made by our 91 year old potter (who started to learn pottery four years ago), to the farewell liturgy. Lovely gifts....and a surprise tie dye t-shirt and pocket altar from the youth really blew him away. I feel that it all has been healthy and lovely....and for my own closure with him..., well, we went out for bombay sapphire martinis and greek food. YUM. And, delightful.
So, we enter into the summer. Next week, on Pentecost, there will be guests in worship that I know of (you know what I mean).....and then two weeks of vacation in Hawaii. The rest of the summer I will be the pastor and head of staff (staff of two, hah!) until the interim arrives near the end of August. I will have to visit my 'rents at some point, because their health is so, well, tentative.
I imagine, I will have some decisions facing me.
For now,
I am just glad,
that the farewells have been generous and thorough.
And,
now, a new chapter begins.
Amen.
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