A Quick Update

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I can’t remember where I left off in updating folks on my progress in the ELCA call process, so indulge me if you have heard this before.

 

Last week I met with the call committee at (Fill in the blank) Lutheran Church for an initial interview.  I must say that the folks there were very welcoming and they made me feel at home almost immediately.  In no way did I feel that I was on the hot seat to provide the correct answers to their questions.  Instead, we had a wonderful conversation about the mission and ministry of the church, our various strengths and those things we thought might be challenges for the future.

 

Our meeting lasted a good while, and by the time I got in my car nearly three hours had passed.  It sure didn’t seem like that long a time, and I took this to be a sign that things went well.  They must have because it was only two days later that the committee’s chairperson called and asked if I could make arrangements for them to visit on a day when I was to lead worship and preach.  That day came soon enough, in fact, it was just yesterday.

 

I haven’t been nervous in front of a congregation for some time now.  Internship has a way of getting those butterflies out of one’s system.  Still, I knew that it was an important day and that folks would be paying close attention to me and what I was doing.  The real nervousness set in when I realized that I had agreed to intone a liturgy that I hadn’t previously sung.  Thanks to a quick review with our church musician, I was ready for the task at hand.

 

I decided that the best way to approach the service was to simply be myself, and if something went awry I would just deal with it.  I am happy to say that our worship went very well, and I think our visitors were pleased.  Before they left we had a chance to share a cup of coffee and they met my wife Angela and daughters Katie and Rachel.

 

All in all it was an exciting experience for my family, our congregation and I hope for the call committee as well.  I have previously served on just such a committee, and I remember the excitement we all shared when we realized that God’s Holy Spirit revealed to us the person who would be our next pastor.  It is my hope that this was the feeling today for those who came to discern the future ministry of (fill in the blank) Lutheran Church.

 

In any case, we worshipped God and praised him with a joyful sound.  The gospel was preached with enthusiasm and the family of faith gathered around the table to celebrate the feast of thanksgiving.  Thanks be to God for the opportunity to once again serve God’s people, and to proclaim the good news of Christ.

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