What I've Been Doing

Sorry for the silence here. Tuesday I arranged my schedule to take a trip to see my in-laws and Marjorie's uncle, who has suffered a heart attack, but due to his MS is unable to have surgery to repair the blockages. Then a member landed in the ICU with a DNR in place. She defied expectations by re-starting her heart herself at least a dozen times since then. I was torn between staying and going. Then another member--the patriarch of the congregation--was placed on hospice care on Friday. Staying here seemed to be the right choice.

The best part of being a pastor is standing at the bedside of one who is dying. Everything is stripped away and that remains is the Gospel. It is a privilege telling others about the merciful God they are about to meet, who is waiting for them with open arms. Laying on hands, giving absolution, commending them to the care of the holy angels, sharing with them the hope that casts out fear--this is the best part of the job.

I will be doing that more this week. Pray for God's servants Dorothy and Robert.

All In One Piece

We made it back safely and had a wonderful time while there. Our guardian angels preserved us coming and going through rain and wind and at least two accidents, and even those drivers were apparently preserved from harm, though their tractors and trailers were not.

The Cumberland Plateau was beautiful with changing leaves, warm days and cool nights. Our days were filled with leaf-collecting, playing at the biggest tree house I've ever seen (pics to be posted soon), naps, and wonderful food. The nights were filled with wine and card games and laughing.

But now I'm back in my study and found folks in the hospital, a funeral to attend for a member's husband (God rest his soul), and a serious operation for a member. These things make me wish I'd been around the last week to minister to these dear members.

Also, I've found a few meetings I missed and need to get up to speed on, the annual voter's meeting Sunday (which historically does not always go too well), and a bunch of email. These things make me wish I hadn't come back :)

Thank you all for your prayers while we were gone!

Being Transparent

f you live in a fishbowl, it’s a bad idea to try to hide. It just looks funny. Everyone can see you slinking around. What follows is for those in the ministry, but applies to any living in the public eye.
My vicarage supervisor advised me to always telegraph what I would be doing. In other words, whether personally or professionally, a pastor should lay the groundwork, tell others what he is thinking about, planning to do, wanting to do. Get opinions and follow them (or not), but don’t surprise people. Pastors do not like surprises and neither do layfolk.

Of course, this should be done within reason. One doesn’t need to publicize buying a new shirt. Buying a new house? Definitely. The larger the matter one is contemplating, the more it needs to be broadcast as well. Tweaking the Confirmation curriculum should be broadcast to elders and parents. Adding a year to the usual curriculum should be publicized often to many groups. If a matter you are contemplating could be interpreted in a negative way, looks unseemly, or is subject to due criticism, pray for a way to avoid doing it. It’s not worth it. If it must be done, be very public about what is going on. It still may appear questionable, but being honest and public about the matter will cover over a multitude of questions.
And it should go without being said, the people to broadcast this to are the ones who gossip.