A (Retired) Pastor's Week

I guess this was a typical pastor's week. Since I am also the secretary one or two days each week, I did that kind of stuff -- making a new attendance roster, checking email, making an insert for the worship folder, talking with a lot of people who stopped by, answering the phone, etc. Wednesday we were waiting for Trevor so we could start our team meeting when we learned that a man in the church had died. He had terminal cancer but it was expected that he would live another 5 or 6 months so this came as a shock. Shanette and I went over to the house and spent time with the family. Our team meeting was later and shorter!

Wednesday evening was our Family Nite and I spent considerable time getting an old TV to play a VHS tape so the kids could sing to music. We have a new TV but I couldn't get it to work with the VCR. I was successful, but the old system leaves a lot to be desired. That kind of summarizes our whole technological system. Some of what we have is very good and some is rather archaic and the two don't get along well together. I'm referring to our sound and projection system. Trevor is slowly getting it whipped into shape.

One aspect of Family Nite is making sure all the kids get home safely. Some of our kids come from apartments down the street. Three little girls and their baby sister discovered mom wasn't home and the door was locked. We took them back to the church and waited for mom. Pretty soon she called. There was some kind of misunderstanding but everyone was safe.

I like to watch football on TV -- which I did Saturday. Did anyone notice that Oregon beat Washington? I only got in a little football Sunday, as you will read next. And tonight football was just "okay." Unless, of course, you are a Philly fan. But it wasn't much of a game.

Sunday they had a potluck for Pastor's Appreciation day. The food was great. So was the appreciation. It is always nice to be appreciated but I feel a little self-conscious or awkward about people saying all those nice things. The people really do appreciate Trevor and Shanette which is really good. Sunday evening Joyce and I drove to Springfield to attend the church where her nephew is the pastor. He started the same day we did last July but we haven't had the chance to go visit. We got of meet his wife for the first time -- who is expecting their first baby in December. They got married about 3 years ago in South Dakota (her home) and then went to seminary in Mississippi. This is his first full-time appointment and he is pastoring the church he grew up in. His mom and dad also attend the church. Kind of neat, huh?

And so it goes. Lots of work but time for fun. God is good.

Anybody Want To Eat Out?

Well... you, dear readers, are a wonderful tribe. All one needs to do for a little TLC is throw a bit of a pity party and there you are, saying nice things. I'm encouraged.

This has been a fun week. I know... I say that about a lot of weeks. Well, they are. Life is just plain ole fun. Lots of work, but still fun. My sister, Beth, has been with us for the past week. She is the one you don't recognize in this made-just-for-the-blog photo. We have done things with her, and at other times we left her at home and went on our own. Friday we took most of the day for a small tour of the area. We drove through Sodaville to Brownsville and snooped through some old shops, second hand stores, and the museum. Then on through Sweet Home and back to Lebanon. Fun day. Last week I mentioned a graveside service I officiated at. An interesting side note to that: I found out Beth's in-laws are buried at the same cemetery so we drove over there and found their graves.

We're not suffering for food either. Monday we ate out at a Chinese Restaurant, Tuesday afternoon we went to the Seniors Retreat at Aldersgate so we ate dinner there. Wednesday was Family Night with dinner there. Thursday Joyce and I were invited out to eat at a Mongolian Grill. Friday we ate lunch in at a nice little cafe in Brownsville. Alas, Saturday we had to eat at home. Tonight Joyce and I just returned from an invitation to eat out -- again!

Tuesday morning we went house hunting. We are considering moving to Salem and getting a duplex so Ginger can live in the other end. We got a list of possibilities from a Realtor, I laid out a grid, and we drove all over Salem looking at duplexes. Not the inside, just looking at the outside and considering the neighborhood -- if we wanted to pursue it further. There are some we are going to try to see closer but nothing we are really excited about. We have discovered some problems with what we want to do: 1) most duplexes are in a concentration of duplexes, i.e. rentals, with all the problems a group of rentals brings; 2) newer duplexes are nicer but the building lots are smaller, hence real close neighbors and no place to put the RV; 3) many of them are townhouses and we are not thrilled with the idea of steps. So we'll see how this progresses. We are in no hurry.

We are having fabulously beautiful fall weather. A little rain but then it turns nice, the sun shines, and temps are not too bad. It is really nice. The Friday trip was in gorgeous weather. Yesterday it rained. Today was beautiful. I preached this morning and Trevor did his first baby dedication. Ginger came Friday evening and went home after church today. And Beth goes home tomorrow -- after we eat lunch at a Mexican Restaurant just down the street!!!

And that is about it. Oh yes, the church. Of course, the church. That's why we are here, isn't it? Or is it to try all the local restaurants? Actually we don't have that many but Corvallis and Albany are nearby. That opens up a whole world of possibilities. Anyway, the church is going well. Lots of planning and visiting, planning and visiting. It's good. We're good. I hope you're good.

(Sorry about the big, long paragraph. After putting in a pictue, my blog won't recognize paragraphs -- many times. Any suggestions?)

2 Weeks Worth

I'm back. I didn't blog last week because I didn't feel like it! I decided that since I'm retired (well, supposed to be) that I didn't always have to blog if I didn't want to. Besides, who cares? I didn't think anyone would even notice. Who reads it anyway? Only 3 people checked anything on the poll (I'm the 4th one). So I had a pity party and kicked back and watched football. So there!

(I just lost a big paragraph of blog. I don't even know how it happened and I'm not happy again. Anybody know a better way to blog than to use blogspot? I've thought of getting a web page but I think that is more work and has more limitations for what this really is.) Okay. I'll try again but I always hate to redo something. There were a few times back in history when I would lose my sermon on the computer (a lockup or something). Then I would have to start over and I hated that. I think God gave me those times to see if I was really committed to developing the best sermon I could.

I think I'll work backwards. Today Trevor preached. We are beginning a sermon series on the Bible book of Philippians and he gave the background. My sister, Beth is here visiting us for about 10 days. We also had visitors from Grants Pass -- Mike, Joann, Ken and Ruth. Plus four other people from the Salem area (plus their kids). Our regular attendance was down but with the visitors, it didn't look too bad. We were also missing our pianist which meant singing a'capella. Actually we do that pretty well.

We made a quick trip to Grants Pass this week. We left Wednesday immediately after a funeral I officiated at (it was a simple graveside). Part of the funeral process is teaching Trevor and Shanette what to do so I had them involved with visiting with the family and Trevor prayed a closing prayer. At home -- GP home -- we had two doctors appointments EACH on Thursday (all is well -- too well, in fact. I am eating too well!). We stripped the garden and got the remnants ready to take to Jo-Gro on our November visit. We also winterized the RV and covered it for winter. Then headed back to Lebanon on Friday. Oh, I also turned on the heat in the house. Note: this is my new heating system that I have only been able to personally enjoy for two days! Maybe the house will enjoy it. Hope it works.

Joyce and Shanette painted the outer office a few days ago -- then put furniture and so on in there to make it more like a reception area. It looks nice. We have been invited out to eat and always eat too much. These people can sure cook! I've been working too hard. This is supposed to be part-time -- about 30 hours a week. Some weeks I'm getting over 40 and have averaged about 35. Oh well. I'm having fun. Last Sunday I preached. The previous two Sundays Trevor preached using his life testimony as a basis; then Shanette did the same thing. So I decided to do that also. That is the first time I have done that. I've shared my testimony before but never in that way. It was hard deciding what to talk about and what to leave out -- and then work all that into a sermon so it was more than just a "story about me." I think it turned out okay and it was fun.

And with that note of "fun" I'll end this blog. Be sure to have fun this week.