November Preparations

(image from Flicker)
Now that November is here, its time to gear up for a busy ministry season, and for hosting Thanksgiving. Cooking for guests always makes me a nervous wreck! As a domestically challenged person, it absolutely freaks me out that I have to plan, prepare and serve all these meals to these people. Its hard enough for me to feed my family from day to day! So I'm trying to save myself some stress by finding simple child friendly recipes and trying them out on my family. And finding the most simple Thanksgiving Day recipes too. Breathe! It will be OK!

Angst about food aside, we have some major cleaning to do, which is challenging when you have children following behind you undoing all your organization with chaos. I'm actually kind of pumped about the cleaning part, because I envision our friends and their kids here, enjoying our home, and feeling comfortable with us. I can't wait to see them!

sun on the mountain

Classic Collage 3x5 folded card

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Painful Weddings

Wedding tomorrow. I am dreading it, as is most everyone involved in it. The bride and groom can't wait for it to just be over. So much drama, so much smack talking, so much family dysfunction. Brides family hates groom, tries to manipulate bride, and are attention seeking drama queens and kings. Grooms family is somewhat messed up, but pretty stable at this point. And absolutely appalled at the bride's families behavior. I was sooo glad when the rehearsal was over. I didn't know if the bride was going to get through the evening. I tried to be supportive of her and help her out, but ended up being loathed by her sisters who are against the wedding.

Yuck. Yuckity yuck. And know I'm trying to figure out what to preach at the wedding! I'd love to tell them to all grow up and get a clue, but that wouldn't really be pastoral or appropriate. (But many of them could use a good stern lecture about their selfishness). So what do I preach to these people who are so divided and upset and dysfunctional? What can they hear, really, at this point?

Might have to sleep on this one.

Getting our Spook On

picture by faith goble, from flickr


We're getting ready for Halloween at our place. The window clings are up, and the rest of the decorations will come out tomorrow. Some of the ladies at the church and I are planning an All Hallow's Eve party on the 31st, games and food and prizes all on the parsonage lawn. I'm getting pumped about it! We're going to advertise in all the surrounding communities, since people tend to have to travel quite far for trick-or-treating anyway. I think we could have a GREAT turnout, if the weather SO much fun to do it on our big lawn. Here's hoping!

Thoughts during the Conference

You can tell when the fall schedule comes. Conferences, school schedule, game schedules, and confirmation class planning. It certainly gears up! This is the last day of our Fall Pastors' Theological Conference, which has been interesting and somewhat helpful. I think the best thing about it is the chance to laugh with other pastors, and get some sleep.

Its been so nice to see young couples and children at the conference. There has been a turn-over in our synod this past year, and the young vs. older ratio is changing among our pastors. Since so many of ours are approaching retirement age, it is nice to see that new faces are arriving.

As always, we have been presented with much good information. The challenge is to ponder and integrate it, instead of it slipping away as we jump back into the rush of our usual schedules. This happens with all continuing ed. It's all so interesting and exciting, but its hard to really think it through and make it happen somehow in ministry when you go straight back into the intensity of every-day schedules. The busy rut makes it hard to be creative and implement new things. Not impossible, it takes intentionality and hard work. The onus is on us. But it is far too easy to let the good stuff slip away as we slog away in the trenches. I'm pondering how to address this for myself.

Friday Class

Last day of Continuing Education class. Its been interesting and challenging, and I hope to be able to let it work on my brain and assumptions. And impact the ministry I'm leading. When class is done, we pack up and head to RevDad's parents' place. Tomorrow we meet friends at the Renaissance Festival, then spend the rest of the weekend with the grandparents. We hope it will be a good ending to these two weeks away.

I do really hope that this can bring a sense of renewal for me, and bring a good spirit to the parish. We need an uplift after a very difficult year.

Isaiah 40:1-2

"Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins."

Fascinating class today. Taking on God as warrior, taking on violence in the Bible. That God punishes in the Bible. How do we speak about this to our people? How do we be authentic and honest about the darkness and pain? The overall point of this continuing ed is to think about how we break down the barriers that keep people from engaging Scripture.

Lots to think about....