I Can Now Blog The Unbloggable
As someone reminded me just this past Sunday, it has been about 5 months since I last blogged, but once you read this [if any of you notice that I am back ;) ] I think you will understand why.
This Sunday, appropriately the first one in Advent, I preach my first sermon as the new Pastor of Divine Peace Metropolitan Community Church in Pontiac, Michigan. [The website needs some updating! They have been waiting for me to "arrive."] It is a larger congregation than the other two I have served here in the great State of God's Left and Right Hands. It is still a part-time pastorate [at this point in time, but they have had a full time pastor for many years previously] but it is one pastorate at one church [not two!] that pays an excellent salary, enough that I will not have to work in Korporat Amerika in order to feed, clothe and shelter myself and Dear Heart.
This has been quite the process. First, it took me awhile to figure out if this was the right move, to discern whether this was God's call or something different. Then the pastoral search team from my new congregation, who had a number of applicants for their pulpit, had to discern which among those number to call. Then I had to candidate one weekend. Then they had to vote. Then I had to give notice to my previous congregation.
So I am feeling sad, ecstatic, excited, nervous --and trying very much to listen and discern. And wishing I had more time to read.
Besides all of the benefits for me from moving, there is one very important family-related benefit for DH and I. This will allow us to be more available to Pistol, DH's 79 year old mother, who lives largely independently and just needs someone to chauffeur her [she can only see with the aid of some very large and powerful magnifying glasses] and check in on her periodically. Our nearness we hope will allow Pistol to continue to live independently for as long as possible out of the hopefully many years she has remaining to her.
DH and I have acquired a new rental house [in a community within 4 miles of my new church, 15 minutes away from Pistol's home] about which we are very, very excited --although we both hate moving!!! The moment we saw this house, it had such a positive energy/aura/spirit, we knew it was the one we wanted. We are in the process of painting about half of its interior surfaces so that it is ready to move into December 6, our big moving day. There's still some more deep cleaning to be done in the kitchen too, a large wonderful kitchen with new everything!!! The house is located in what is basically a suburb, but it has a very rural feel since it is located across from a small lake in the Clinton River watershed. There's a nice size yard, just right in size, with two garden patches where the previous tenants gardened organically. Lots of trees, without there being too many. Lots of windows, lots of natural light, a must for me, especially this time of year.
We also have to complete the painting projects we started for our old house as well --but that will wait until it is empty.
Although my last Sunday at my previous congregation was November 23, I still have some loose ends to tie up for them and to assist them to the degree I can with the transitions that must be made. I hope to get those completed by Moving Day.
Then, the second week in December, DH and I are off to Texas for Christmas with my family, the first visit I have had with them in nearly 3 years.
It is a very, very busy time --but also, a very "Adventy" time, for God is doing many new things in my life and the lives of those who have been/will be intertwined with mine.
If you are reading this, please keep me and mine in your prayers!
This Sunday, appropriately the first one in Advent, I preach my first sermon as the new Pastor of Divine Peace Metropolitan Community Church in Pontiac, Michigan. [The website needs some updating! They have been waiting for me to "arrive."] It is a larger congregation than the other two I have served here in the great State of God's Left and Right Hands. It is still a part-time pastorate [at this point in time, but they have had a full time pastor for many years previously] but it is one pastorate at one church [not two!] that pays an excellent salary, enough that I will not have to work in Korporat Amerika in order to feed, clothe and shelter myself and Dear Heart.
This has been quite the process. First, it took me awhile to figure out if this was the right move, to discern whether this was God's call or something different. Then the pastoral search team from my new congregation, who had a number of applicants for their pulpit, had to discern which among those number to call. Then I had to candidate one weekend. Then they had to vote. Then I had to give notice to my previous congregation.
So I am feeling sad, ecstatic, excited, nervous --and trying very much to listen and discern. And wishing I had more time to read.
Besides all of the benefits for me from moving, there is one very important family-related benefit for DH and I. This will allow us to be more available to Pistol, DH's 79 year old mother, who lives largely independently and just needs someone to chauffeur her [she can only see with the aid of some very large and powerful magnifying glasses] and check in on her periodically. Our nearness we hope will allow Pistol to continue to live independently for as long as possible out of the hopefully many years she has remaining to her.
DH and I have acquired a new rental house [in a community within 4 miles of my new church, 15 minutes away from Pistol's home] about which we are very, very excited --although we both hate moving!!! The moment we saw this house, it had such a positive energy/aura/spirit, we knew it was the one we wanted. We are in the process of painting about half of its interior surfaces so that it is ready to move into December 6, our big moving day. There's still some more deep cleaning to be done in the kitchen too, a large wonderful kitchen with new everything!!! The house is located in what is basically a suburb, but it has a very rural feel since it is located across from a small lake in the Clinton River watershed. There's a nice size yard, just right in size, with two garden patches where the previous tenants gardened organically. Lots of trees, without there being too many. Lots of windows, lots of natural light, a must for me, especially this time of year.
We also have to complete the painting projects we started for our old house as well --but that will wait until it is empty.
Although my last Sunday at my previous congregation was November 23, I still have some loose ends to tie up for them and to assist them to the degree I can with the transitions that must be made. I hope to get those completed by Moving Day.
Then, the second week in December, DH and I are off to Texas for Christmas with my family, the first visit I have had with them in nearly 3 years.
It is a very, very busy time --but also, a very "Adventy" time, for God is doing many new things in my life and the lives of those who have been/will be intertwined with mine.
If you are reading this, please keep me and mine in your prayers!
posted by Reverend Dona Quixote @ 10:37 AM
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