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.