Congregation Extends Call to Rev. Paul Burns as Pastor

After a diligent discernment process conducted by the Pastor Nominating Committee, the congregation of FPC Garland met on Sunday November 16 and elected the Rev. Paul Burns to be pastor effective January 5, 2015. 

 

The Pastor Nominating Committee will now begin functioning as the Transition Team to welcome Paul and his family. They prepared this short biography to introduce him to the congregation:

Paul is the son of a Presbyterian pastor. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Musical Arts and pursued a career as an investment consultant in Dallas and then New York City. Feeling called to ministry, he returned to Texas to attend Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

 
Currently, he serves Priest Lake Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been at Priest Lake for seven years and has helped that church grow not only in faith, but in mission outreach, membership, racial diversity, and stewardship funds during his tenure.

Beyond service to his local church, Paul has authored two books with one more on the way. He is a certified Christian coach and is currently working to complete his Doctorate of Ministry.

Paul and his wife, Jennifer, and their 2-year-old son, Nelson, are excited to be moving back to Texas. He will begin January 5 with his first Sunday in the pulpit being January 11. The Pastor Nominating Committee will now serve as the transition team, and we ask for your help as we begin the process of preparing to welcome the Burns family into our fold. Pray for them as they go through this time of transition, and pray for Rev. Ivie and his family as well. Praise be to God for these times of change and renewal!

The Pastor Nominating Committee / Transition Team

Session Calls Special Congregational Meeting for November 16

The session of First Presbyterian Church of Garland, Texas hereby issues a call for a special meeting of the congregation. The meeting will be held Sunday November 16^th, 2014 in the church sanctuary immediately following the 10:50 am worship service.  The purpose of the meeting is to hear and act upon a report from the Pastor Nominating Committee. All details will be released at that meeting. Voting will be by paper ballot. Signed, Ty Bailey, Clerk of Session and the Rev. David Ivie, Interim Pastor

--

At this meeting, the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) Moderator Rhonda Bush will motion that the congregation extend a call to the candidate to become your next pastor. The PNC will introduce the candidate and relate how they discerned this candidate to be the one whom God is calling here. They will also present the terms of call (salary, benefits, etc) for the pastor as well as the start date.

Everyone is invited to attend. All active members of the congregation are allowed to vote, and voting will be done by paper ballot.

 

This means the congregation will meet two Sundays in a row. The session had previously set Sunday November 9th as the day to hear and act upon a report from the Congregational Nominating Committee (followed by chili cook-off!). So the congregational will be asked to elect ruling elders and deacons one Sunday and have the option to extend a call to a new pastor on the following Sunday. In our polity, the congregation does not have very many opportunities to vote on items of business (see Book of Order G-1.0503). But now you are exercising two of your main responsibilities in the same month!

 

I know that we are all very excited to be at this place in the process. The PNC was elected just over one year ago (October 13, 2013) and has worked prayerfully and carefully to discern God's leading. Anticipate both meetings with a sense of wonder and joy about the steadfast love of the Lord. It never ceases.

 

Excitedly, David 

 

 

Call to Elect Ruling Elders and Deacons

The session of First Presbyterian Church of Garland, Texas hereby issues a call for a special meeting of the congregation. The meeting will be held Sunday November 9^th, 2014 in the church sanctuary immediately following the 10:50 am worship service.  The purpose of the meeting is to hear and act upon two (2) motions from the Congregational Nominating Committee (CNC).  First, the nominating committee will present the ruling elder and deacon classes of 2017.  Secondly, the nominating committee will present four (4) at-large members to represent the congregation on the 2015 Congregational Nominating Committee (CNC).  Nominations may be taken from the floor for either of these motions with the consent of the person you wish to nominate.  Signed, Ty Bailey, Clerk of Session and the Rev. David Ivie, Interim Pastor

I wish to thank the Congregational Nominating Committee for their faithful work in identifying these candidates for office. They worked well together—and faithfully.

The nominated officers, once elected, will undergo a series of training classes with me to prepare them for their examination, ordination/installation, and their service as spiritual leaders. Pray for them as they prepare to serve Christ in this church.

The meeting on Sunday November 9^th is expected to last approximately 15 minutes. We will then proceed to the Fellowship Hall in the Ed Center for the annual Chili Cook-off.. And I’m determined to beat Louis Gold this year. See you all there!

A Word from Nancy our AA

This week Pastor David is on a well-deserved vacation so instead of the usual Pastor's Corner, he has asked me to give you an update on the transition in the church office.

It's been two months and counting since I became a part of the FPC staff. Change is a constant in life, and it is no different here. The office has been in transition, first with Kat's departure after a whirlwind, in-depth two-week orientation. When that was done, my training wheels came off,

and I began to solo. Ron, who came and out almost every day doing something to make the church run more economically and smoothly, retired. Then within weeks his wife Ardyce, a gentle presence in the office and an authority on everyone and everything in the church I am trying to familiarize myself with, resigned. I'm grateful to have had the chance to work alongside both Ardyce and Ron. I miss their comings and goings and their interest and advice. Dana has come on board as Receiving Secretary. I am looking forward to working with Dana, even though will often have different work schedules.

 

Another new development around here is that a volunteer comes in each day between 11 and 1:00 to hand out sack lunches. This has given me an opportunity to know some of you better.

 

Through these transitions, I've been learning many things I need to know about the procedures for running the office, from Acolytes through Youth. Have you seen that HUGE notebook of info Kat left me? It's a volume with almost as many chapters as the Bible has books!

 

The best part of my job is keeping up with members and your activities and ministries and the groups you kindly share your facilities with. I've visited the Community Breakfast and both worship services, and it was an eye-opener to me to realize I like contemporary service. That was really unexpected for this old-time traditionalist. It's an on-going process, particularly some of the technological aspects. The technology thing is no secret to some of you! Kat performed magic, keeping all the balls up in the air here. She has been a resource for me; Barbara, too, as well as the many volunteers that have come through doing different tasks.

In my home church of NorthPark Presbyterian, I am a participant currently in a book study of We Make the Road by Walking. I've been reading about walking on faith journeys. The author,

Brian McLaren, made a point in this week's study that when people receive blessings they can spread their joy by becoming a blessing to others. From the day I began work here, I've shared with many friends how blessed I felt when I had the opportunity to join your staff, and it is my hope that I can become a blessing to the family of FPC Garland.

Love and peace to you!

Ardyce Retires from Receiving Treasurer Position

On Monday September 15, the session received--with great appreciation for her years of service--the retirement of Ardyce as Receiving Treasurer. Ardyce has been in this position since January 1998. When the Personnel Ministry Team conducted her annual review this summer, Ardyce said she planned to continue her work at the church. Due to her health those plans have changed. She knows that now is the time.

Plans are in the works to have a reception for Ardyce in the near future. It is likely we will recognize Ron and Ardyce together. Look for more details soon. In the meantime, join me in your prayers of thanksgiving and healing for Ron and Ardyce. They know that you all love them and care for them!

This past Sunday, the session held a special meeting and approved an offer to Dana to serve as Temporary Receiving Treasurer for a period of 90 days, from September 28^th through December 28^th. This action allows for Ardyce to retire as soon as possible (the end of this month). This action also gives the session time to search for a permanent Receiving Treasurer. We are beginning that search now. Preference will be given to non-members of this church. The position information is posted on our church website. Please help us spread the word.

In our discussion, the session acknowledged the cumulative effect of changes within our congregation. You are in an interim period. Kat and Ron have retired. And now Ardyce. We acknowledge that this is a lot to deal with. But just because things are changing doesn’t mean something is wrong. Nancy is doing very well in the office. You have received her with grace. Ron’s duties are being handled by the elected leaders of Buildings & Grounds and Worship (Damon and Andy). Now Dana, who has accounting experience and works at Southminster with the same software program, will be able to process receipts and deposits efficiently and in the strictest of confidence. The ruling elders are leading with prudence. So while there is a lot going on, you also can know that the mission of the church has not been compromised. You can have confidence in those who are leading. Most of all I ask you to have confidence in God. This is Christ’s church, and that is enough.

Interim periods are tough. No one really likes them. But the changes can often be very productive. I believe this is true for you. Your next pastor will be in an excellent position to come in and focus on ministry without being unduly burdened by administrative tasks. So hang in there. You haven’t entered the Promised Land. But you can still believe in it!

Can You Spare a Square?

As we continue to adjust to the transition with Ron’s retirement, please remember that we have capable leaders and committees already in place. So if you have a question regarding the building, please ask ruling elder Damon. He is the chair of Buildings & Grounds. He will either help you directly or get the right person to you. If you have a question about worship or the sanctuary, please see ruling elder Andy. He is the chair of Worship Ministry Team and is aware of all that needs to be attended to. Of course I am also available to help or to point you in the right direction.

There will be things that go wrong. Like last Sunday morning when there was no toilet paper in the women’s bathroom in the Ed Building. This is not the tragedy that it might first appear to be! After the initial frustration of the moment subsides (“can you spare a square?”) we all realize that we all have a “roll” (pun intended) to make our church run soft and smooth like Charmin. The toilet paper is not hidden, nor is it the sole domain of the chosen few. It is kept in the closet (a.k.a. “Ron’s closet”) in the corner of the Ed Building, next to the Outreach Classroom and the sound equipment. Grab what you need to restock your stall, and maybe grab an extra for your neighbor. Given the choice of “why isn’t this done for me?” and “how can I be a part of the solution?” I ask you to choose the latter.

In other news, Grace Presbytery has reached a settlement in the lawsuit that Highland Park Presbyterian Church initiated against the presbytery last fall. The settlement states that HPPC will pay the presbytery $7.8 million dollars. This allows them to be released from the trust clause and to be released from the denomination. So the departing congregation is paying the presbytery so they may keep their property and assets. However, as the lawsuit is being settled and even while a trial has been avoided, the pain is still present. There remains some within that congregation who wish to remain affiliated with the PC(USA). I ask you to continue in prayer for all those who suffer the pain of division.

We are a connectional church. This means we laugh with each other when we realize we just sat down in a stall without toilet paper. It also means we stick with each other in our differing opinions. It also means we love and support each other in times of sorrow, loss and stress. You do that well.

Thanks be to God!

Ron is Retiring

Last week I informed the session of Ron S’s intention to step down from his volunteer duties here at the church. Ron, Ardyce and I spoke several times about this in August, and Ron has decided to “retire again” by November 30 of this year.

Over 20 years ago, Ron volunteered to take on the duties of the church custodian when that position became vacant. Ron had already retired from his own career at Kraft and had already been a key member of the church, holding several leadership positions with a particular focus in worship and music. Now in 1994 he also added another hat, and became a volunteer custodian and has continued this for the past 20 plus years. These additional duties saved the church at least $400,000 over the years since we didn’t have to replace that staff custodial position.

Some of you are wondering “who will replace Ron”? In one sense no one in particular will replace him, as this position is being eliminated. The duties will be divided up to the worship and buildings/grounds teams. As a result, these duties will be picked up by lots of different people. So the other answer to who will replace Ron is “we will”, since we all will be responsible to take care of things that Ron used to do for us. The church is blessed with strong teams with effective leaders who are capable to make this transition go as smooth as possible.

Ron is now retiring his “volunteer hat” but of course will continue to wear his “member hat.” He will remain a significant resource, being a phone call away to answer questions about building maintenance and the history of our congregation. This transition comes at the right time, allowing committees and people to take on parts of what Ron has been doing and to make any adjustments for 2015. This transition also comes at the right time, opening a new space for the new pastor when he/she arrives. Until then it is the right time to offer our sincere appreciation to Ron (and to Ardyce and their family) for such dedication. Ron did all this out of his love for the church. It has been his way of being faithful, doing what he felt was right and good. Surely we can say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done!”

With respect and admiration!

What Does It Mean to be a MultiCultural Church?

Earlier this month ruling elder Traci Truly spent a few days in Fort Worth with Presbyterians all over the world at the PC(USA) National Multicultural Conference. Here is a portion of Traci’s report for the session:

A multicultural church was defined by one speaker as a church that “gathers as a house of prayer for all peoples, that gathers all the nations, and makes disciples of all nations.”  A multicultural church shares power and it celebrates its diversity.  Some ways diversity can be celebrated in worship include using different languages, arts, and spiritual practices.  Several speakers suggested doing a walkthrough of your facility.  What about your artwork?  Does your church have pictures of a white Jesus on the wall in every room?  If so, maybe you could cut back on those.  Are there ways you can incorporate the artistic traditions of the other cultures represented in your church in your artistic displays and in the art you use in worship?  What about your music?  Does it always have to be the organ?  One church had its African community lead at least one of the songs during each worship service using their instruments and language.  We were reminded that we don’t have to revamp the entire worship service to be multicultural, but we can change or expand one or two elements.

Those of us in the dominant culture were told to remember that we do have a culture even if we think we don’t.  We were also reminded that each culture has its own ways of reading scripture, of doing education, and of practicing its spirituality.  We can learn a great from each other but we have to take the time to learn what those other ways are.

Being multicultural is about doing more than saying, “Welcome. We are glad you’re here. Now let us show you how to become just like us.” Dr. Dorothy Bea Akoto used the analogy of grafting.  When one kind of fruit tree is grafted onto another, some wounding occurs.  But the wound heals by bonding at the site of the graft and the fruit that results is not like either the graft or the host tree.  It is its own unique creation.

 

While there, Traci had an opportune meeting with Chip Hardwick, and he wrote about our church in his blog!

It is very exciting that FPC Garland is now a multicultural church that is already doing many things right. And as the grafting continues (yes there’s more work to be done in this area) I pray that we all may be challenged and inspired to love God and each other even more. Thank you Traci!

Deferring To Each Other

I wish to thank those who stayed after worship on July 6 for the General Assembly recap. We had about 25 people for an hour-long discussion. We covered highlights of the entire assembly. For example did you know that the final approval of the new Heidelberg Catechism translation means our Book of Confessions are now out of date? Did you know the assembly approved a two-year study on a simplified and revised Directory for Worship (the middle section of our Book of Order)?

We spent most of our time discussing the facts and our feelings about same-gender marriage and divestment Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions. As I suspected, there were people on both sides of both issues, showing that this church is a “big tent” allowing for diversity of opinion. I wanted people to be able to express their opinions in a loving way and for voices to be heard. I wanted people to know the actual facts of the decisions. I handed out Frequently Asked Questions on both issues which contain the actual verbiage with explanations on what they mean (and what they don’t mean).

I hope that you were able to walk away feeling like we’re all going to be okay even if you don’t like what has happened. Presbyterian polity has never enforced a top-down approach which enforces a litmus test on certain issues. And we have historically asked that we gracefully defer to each other out of our love for Christ (Eph. 5.21). These are some of the historic principles of Presbyterian polity--freedom of conscience within certain bounds and mutual forbearance.

Conformity in all things has never been a principle of “mainline” churches or Presbyterianism. Of course this is what makes it messy as well. Ambiguity, not knowing, makes us feel uncomfortable. It is anxiety-producing. Yet our not-knowing about some things forces us to trust in God more completely in all things. We are not called to feel settled because we have it all figured out. We are called to feel secure in Christ because of God’s providential care for all of creation.

Thank you for being a faithful congregation. Thank you for agreeing to disagree. Thank you for staying clear on our mission to worship God, prepare disciples and serve the world. We are at our best when we worship, pray, learn, serve and grow together. God will complete whatever we leave undone. So be it.

David

Grace That Is Greater

I invite you to attend a recap of the 221^st General Assembly of the PC(USA) after the 10:50am worship service on July 6^th. I will provide a brief overview of the General Assembly’s actions, and as time allows, I will address the hot topics. The two most divisive issues are regarding same-sex marriage and divesting from three U.S. companies whose products are used in non-peaceful pursuits in Israel/Palestine.

I know that there are people within this church who disagree with these decisions and also those who agree with them. It is important to me as your pastor that we handle our disagreements in a healthy and graceful way. Just because someone views homosexuality different than you do does not mean they are not Christian or that their church is not really a church. People on opposing sides of the issues are both trying to be faithful and take their faith and the Bible seriously. As our new national moderator Dr. Heath Rada said during the assembly: “We must disagree, for that is what Presbyterians do, but let us never stop loving each other.”

I believe if you read the actual language of these actions you will see how carefully worded they are. I encourage you to be informed—read reports directly from our denomination, rather than someone’s opinion. The denomination has also created helpful FAQ sheets that are online or available from me.

If you have concerns which you would like to express you may either talk to me or to the session about them. There are also people who may simply want more information; if enough interest exists, I can also facilitate additional small group discussions. Let me know how I can be your pastor around these issues. My door is open.

The session and I recognize that while these issues are of concern, they should not distract us from our mission. God has placed us here together to worship, disciple and serve. And God’s sovereign grace is more important that our opinions. And that is good news indeed.

David

Let's Stick Together

Last week several members of the congregation drove to Hurst to attend the ordination and installation service for Alissa who was baptized in this church and grew up here. We were blessed by a meaningful and joyful service. Perhaps the highlight for me was the opportunity to hear John Williams preach. John is the chaplain at Austin College and in his capacity he has been a friend to countless young college people. He is a well-loved pastor and friend to many, and deservedly so.

John’s sermon focused on the Pentecost texts given to us from the book of Numbers in the Old Testament and the book of Acts in the New. He reminded us that the Spirit is a gift that works in individual lives such as Alissa’s. He reminded us also that the Spirit is a gift that works in the lives us communities such as St. Philip Church as they discerned Alissa to be Associate Pastor. But he didn’t stop there. He reminded us that the Spirit is a gift which also works within the church at large such as Grace Presbytery. [This three part call is also the approach we are following here at FPC Garland in the search for your next pastor.]

Our individual experiences are personal but never private. They are to be confirmed in the context of a community. And individual churches only realize the full power of God’s Spirit when outside guidance and wisdom are received. This is a basic principle of Presbyterian polity. It is what we call “connectionalism.” And we have connectionalism because we take sin seriously. On our own, our capacity to stray is magnified. Together in discernment with others, we are more likely to hear the voice of the Spirit and the effect of sin is reduced.

One of the important implications for this is the realization that not one entity can say “we know better” or “we are better on our own.” As tough as it is to remain connected, especially when we disagree or experience conflict or encounter people behaving badly, this is precisely where God would have us. This is why I attend presbytery meetings. This is why I am attending the General Assembly. This is why I keep up with the details of our national church. Because it reminds me that I can’t be a Christian growing in love for God and for neighbor on my own. In short, remaining connected makes me a better Christian.

Engaged, David

Confirmation Class & GA Preview

This newsletter has two corners. The first corner is my excitement over the confirmation class. This class, organized by Lee Campbell, has been meeting since the fall to learn more about faith. In May they met with the session and were received into membership. They will be recognized on Confirmation Sunday (also Pentecost) on Sunday June 8. There they will stand before you and make public their profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They will also commit to being faithful participants in the worship and mission of Christ’s church. In this way they are adopting for themselves the faith in which you (representing the church-at-large) nurtured them. They will express their desire to continue in the covenant God made with them when they were baptized.

Confirmation is not graduation. Confirmation is a commissioning, whereby they are enabled to assume greater responsibility. Being a disciple of Jesus is a life-long journey, sometimes difficult, but always leading to life. Please join me in congratulating these 9 students, the newest members of this church: Sarah, Chandler, Cody, Jordan, Sam, Anita, Junior, Jason, Dylan.

My second corner is my excitement over the 221^st General Assembly to be held in Detroit June 14-June 21. I will be attending for the first time as an “Alternate Commissioner” from Grace Presbytery. This means I will observe and learn in preparation for being a “real” voting commissioner at the next GA in 2016, held in Portland. The General Assembly will conduct routine business like electing the next Moderator. We will also worship and serve together. Hot topics which have been on the agenda in the past will again make for interesting times. Issues related to Israel/Palestine, Marriage/Human Sexuality, the Belhar Confession and what to do with Synods are among a very crowded docket. The General Assembly is an instance of the church-at-large—people like you and me meeting together to discern the will of Christ for the PC(USA). Please pray that discernment occurs so that God’s will is done. I will be providing a GA preview on June 8 after the 10:50 worship service. If you want to learn a bit more, please meet me in the sanctuary. See you then.  David

Leaning Into the Future

On Heritage Sunday last month we had a wonderful celebration of our church’s history. This year was particularly meaningful as we recognized that 20 years ago we began worshipping in the “new” sanctuary—the first service being Sunday May 1, 1994. As part of this year’s activities Rod Jordan snapped a photograph as the whole congregation stood in the chancel. This photo is being framed and will be hung in the church soon.

20 years is a significant stretch of time. In 1994 the church was much different. Different people, different leadership, different activities. Indeed the world was different then too. Yet we are the church we are today because of faithful, intentional steps they took to build up Christ’s body and leave a legacy for us.

In the same way, we too have an impact on the future. 20 years from now, in 2034, the church will be different again. Different people, different leadership, different activities. And the world of 2034 will be different as well.

Just as we have a responsibility to honor the heritage of the church, we also have a responsibility to do what we can to prepare for its future. It is the balance of continuity and change—both are important. The God of the past is also the God of the future. From the new Glory to God hymnal we sing the old favorite “O God Our Help in Ages Past Our Hope for Years to Come.” In fact one of the ways you have already embraced the future is by adopting the new hymnal – a songbook for the next generation.

So I invite you to continue to consider the future. We may not know what the future will look like, but we know that because God is in charge, we will be okay. Not fear but hope. Therefore the most faithful thing we can do is to be thinking: “What can I do today that will have an impact on the church 20 years from now?” Make decisions not on how they will benefit you, but how they will benefit those who come after you. How is God calling you to lean into the future? And 20 years from now perhaps another photograph will be taken of people standing where we stood this year. And they will give thanks to God for your legacy which enables them to continue to Worship God, Prepare Disciples and Serve the World.

Leaning Forward, David

A Day More Lovely Than the Rest

On the liturgical calendar, Easter lasts for 7 Sundays and is commonly referred to as “The Great 50 Days.” It takes 50 days for us to celebrate, practice and experience this core belief of our faith—that “he is not here, he has been raised, as he said.” It takes 50 days for us to learn the lesson “do not be afraid,” “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” A season so grand needs a proper inaugural.
 
And God provided. We greeted each other that morning with the traditional Easter greeting: “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” We sang the stirring songs of faith “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” and “Thine is the Glory” with the Joyful Noise ensemble. An earthquake and the message from an angel—that God has begun a new creation—made the women leave the tomb “with fear and great joy.” And then, like the church has done for thousands of years, we celebrated the sacrament of baptism and welcomed new members. The chancel was full of people and the sanctuary was filled with the Spirit. We all remembered the gift of baptism--that we have died to the ways of sin and death and been raised to new life in Christ, the risen Lord. It was like a birthday for all of us, as Ruth Bailey played “Amazing Grace” on the piano. After service the narthex was full of smiling people posing for more pictures. The sound of laughter rang in my ears.

After church my family stopped in Sunnyvale and took pictures in the bluebonnets. The state flower drew out many other families to take advantage of the beauty of the day. As we drove home I saw other families out holding their babies, letting the children run in the parks covered in blue. There was life everywhere. It was like everyone was echoing the psalm lesson for Easter, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Not too many days later, the bluebonnets began to fade and drop their pedals for next year. They just weren’t as bright after that Easter Sunday. But that’s the way it is supposed to be. The day that makes all other days possible shown bright and fair, a day more lovely than the rest.

Easter Blessings, David

Celebrating Kat

This weekend the church is honoring Kat Hutchings for her 25 years of service as your church’s Administrative Assistant. Kat was introduced in the May 1, 1989 edition of the Monday Morning in “Ron’s Reflections.” It reads “Kathy comes to us from Richland College Library. You will like her! Come in and meet her. WELCOME, KATHY!” Ron also reported on the success of Centennial Week, and just below her introduction is a brief article on how “the present pew cushions have outlived their usefulness” and the upcoming congregational meeting to name a building committee.

 

Kat has seen many changes. She has served with two installed pastors and two interim pastors. There have been other faithful staff members and many volunteers. She began her work in the old building and had a temporary office in the education center before moving into the new building in 1994. She began her work on typewriters and now has strong computer and internet skills. She has dealt with no telling how many copiers and printers over the years.

 

And then there are all the people. Not just the members of the congregation, though that has been significant. Kat also is connected with other churches and the community. She has a network of people within and without the church who have been touched by her caring and determined spirit.

And that is worth celebrating. It’s not just the years of dedicated and exemplary service. It’s the spirit in which Kat has served. Her work as the church’s AA has been a means of grace, whereby she has shown the fruits of the Spirit of God: patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Oh, and also love, joy and peace! Yes, Kat has seen many changes, but perhaps the most significant is how she has gifted us with her presence so that we may all change, growing in love for God and for each other.

 

So yes, Ron Holloman, you were right when you wrote 25 years ago that we will like her. And not only do we like her, we love her. Thanks to Kat and to her family as well. And if you cannot attend, I encourage you to write her a note, blessing her with words of support and love.

 

25 years later, David

When Mom Is On Retreat

Recently Laura went to Camp Gilmont for the Women’s Retreat. So I was at home with the kids for the weekend. No problem. As far as I remember, we all survived without mom at home. The girls and I got Sam to a trombone ensemble performance on Friday night. We ran errands on Saturday, and got some laundry done. Somehow I managed to make a meatloaf for Sunday’s Family Table and prep another one for us to eat on Sunday evening. We arrived at church on time, sat through both services without incident, and I think Sophia’s hair was brushed.

 

In one sense, I’m an old pro at this weekend daddy routine. Laura worked every Saturday and Sunday during most of our time in Iowa. That was hard. Hard on Laura and on us. And of course this was when Sophia was younger and needed more help to get ready.  So I remember Easter Sunday 2011 when Laura was at work. I was in high gear that day for sure. I had the girls in their new dresses. I not only brushed but curled their hair. We were at church in time to eat some pancakes before the Easter egg hunt and worship. The only thing that didn’t go so well is that afternoon I couldn’t get Sophia to sit still for a group picture in front of our tulips. This was the one specific request Laura made, and it didn’t happen. But by that point in the day, Sophia (almost 3 years old then) was deliriously tired and couldn’t focus on anything. I thought back to that morning when I let her eat an entire chocolate bunny for breakfast. Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea after all.

 

The situation with Laura working weekends wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t what we had in mind when we moved 900 miles away from extended family support. It didn’t last forever, though at times it seemed like it would. We made it, and got pretty good at taking care of our chores and each other. We even created some good memories. So when Laura heads off for a weekend retreat, I pause and remember with gratitude the times when life was harder than I wanted it to be. Every experience has something to teach us, a wise man once told me. But that doesn’t stop me from smiling when I hear Laura steer her van back up the driveway.

  

-- David

Supporting the PNC

Your Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has been working hard since you elected them last October. Donna, Rhonda, Joan, Divine, Andy, Freddie and Hunter have been meeting just about every week since then. They have been faithful and diligent. They have formed a close bond and are working well together. In just a little while, they will be completing the Ministry Information Form (MIF, formerly known as the CIF). When that happens they will begin receiving forms from candidates, and the real fun begins.

 

Because they are over four months into their work, it is time to revisit the vows the congregation took during the commissioning. Here are the commitments you made that day:
 

Will you pray for, support and encourage these committee members in the months ahead, praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for their work?                       WE WILL.

 

Will you trust that God is guiding them as well as our Committee on Ministry liaison Blair Garrett and others within Grace Presbytery who are working with them?    WE WILL. 

Will you seek to be patient if the search process seems slow?            WE WILL.

 

Will you, relying upon the Holy Spirit, resist forming images of what your new pastor should look like or be like, trusting the committee's skills and intentions to discern worthy qualities of ministry that God intends for this place?                        WE WILL.

 

Will you respect the need for confidentiality in this search process?   WE WILL.

 

Will you understand that members of this committee may not be able to carry their usual share of the other responsibilities of this congregation?                          WE WILL.

 

Each member of the session has committed to pray for an individual on the PNC – and their families. They pray for such things as strength, patience, discernment, wisdom, endurance, and a sense of joy working together. I ask you to continue your prayers as well. The best way for the PNC to know that you care and are supporting them is to say, “We're praying for you” when you see them at church. Prayer reinforces our trust in the goodness of God, and has the effect of reducing our stress and anxiety. So let us pray....

 

David

Our Epiphany Worldview

Does life make any sense? In the face of tragedy and loss do people of faith have anything to offer?

 

Once every three years (if we follow the lectionary) the wonderful story of Jesus’ birth is followed with the horrific story of Herod murdering “all children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under” (Matthew 2:16-18 NRSV).
 

Yet we too live in such a world. There are Herods yet remaining in this world, children die needlessly, and we all are touched by tragedies and loss. People seem particularly prone to illness, flu season hits hard, and depression and mental illnesses lurk at every corner. Some suffer from “post holiday blues.” Despair can appear to be normative.

 

The way Matthew tells his story, Jesus coming to be with us (Emmanuel) did not immediately change all realities. Herod was still Herod, wielded terrible power, and used it inhumanely. He did not, like the wise men traveling from the East, recognize that there was a shift in the pattern of things. Yet Matthew is persistent: Jesus had come. A new king had now appeared. The power of God was real, even if it seemed hidden or obscured by the work of false gods and kings.

 

Without a biblical worldview, it can seem like words are meaningless, the universe is pointless, and our presence is irrelevant. Yet from within the context of Matthew and the rest of the Bible, we learn that our perceptions can be wrong. Sometimes our vision is cloudy, our thoughts wander, our willpower is misdirected, and our emotions can trap us. Yet God is still at work in this fallen world. God is working so that nothing good is lost and so that all will ultimately, if not now, be made complete and whole. There is continuity between the God of then and the God of now. And slowly, step by step, breath by breath the God of next will lead us forward. This is the Hope which will see us through until all things are made new. -- David