Wow, has it been a long time since I've posted anything. I had grand plans when we came to NC back in 2013 to keep up with this, but ministry easily took over. I truly feel like this is the first time in a really long time that I've had the opportunity to actually slow down a bit and ponder.
So much has gone on since we came here, there's no way to even scratch the surface. I've learned so much about people and ministry and myself. I've done five funerals and two baptisms (one being our grandson Rilo, in FL). We've had numerous folks share our living space in this big house - sometimes only for a short visit, other times for months on end. We've made friends both within and outside of the church, and still feel very strongly that we are where we're supposed to be.
Kim went to Campbell University for a semester and then switched to Fayetteville State University and is hoping to complete his degree in geography in the next 12-18 months. He's doing really well in school is excited for the job opportunities this degree may open up for him. Emma, our sweet furry girl follows him wherever he goes around the house, but then takes up residence at my feet when Kim leaves for school.
I seem to have filled every crevice of time with ministry activities. Besides the weekly responsibilities of sermon preparation and the bulletin and insert preparations I go to choir every Wednesday evening - both singing with them and sometimes teaching them a contemporary song with the guitar. We usually do one contemporary song along with two hymns in our worship on Sundays. After choir practice is usually bible study at the manse. We've had anywhere from two to twenty-two depending on the night! We definitely feel the Lord's presence so much more when we are steeped in His word, and we really enjoy having people regularly in our home. We share dinner together and then do the study and prayer, and it's always good…I never get tired of it.
Almost right away I hooked up with a pastor's group in a nearby town that meets weekly to discussion the scripture and sermon possibilities using the lectionary texts. I'm the sole woman, and not quite the youngest - but close. They're a great bunch of guys though, and they've been so helpful as I've navigated these first years in pastoral ministry. I also have gotten involved in the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina. We have a group of five of us from Sardis who make up a "balcony team" who have met, along with four other balcony teams, in a community of practice for the last year and a half. Together each of our teams have been learning all we can about what makes up our churches - history, context, values, theology, etc. - and we've been moving towards figuring out who we really are, who our respective "neighbors" are, and what it is that God might be calling us to. It's a two-year commitment by each church to work towards transforming and revitalizing their church and ministry. It's been a great experience and we've met some great people who love the church and are willing to do the hard work so that their church doesn't ultimately die. It's hard but good work, and out of this process another opportunity has presented itself to become certified as a Missional Transformation Coach. I'll be starting that process soon, and I'm excited. It really fits in with my sociology background and interests.
I've also agreed to be the chair of the New Church Development Committee with the presbytery. I'm excited to be jumping into that with the knowledge I gained in Pittsburgh and I'm eager to learn more about NCD possibilities in our presbytery. I have a great group of people to work with, and we have some smaller Hispanic plants along with a larger more traditional church plant near Wilmington that's doing really well.
Hopefully I have a good mix of local and presbytery ministry happening. We have some outreach activities we do through the church - supplying four local schools with shoes, sweats, and some school supplies; we try to go every couple months to the Beacon Rescue Mission to provide dinner and some encouragement and prayer for the residents; we hope to partner more with the local House of Hope once it opens its doors; and I really hope we can take a group on a short-term mission trip at some point. Our men's group has done a couple work trips to help with repairs at the local presbytery camp, and I have a seminary friend's youth group coming this summer to do some work at the House of Hope and Beacon. I love being able to partner with others in ministry!
We're hosting our first Women Gathering in Faith women's retreat next month, and my friend and mentor Ann Been from Colorado will be in NC and has agreed to speak. I can't wait to see her, and for my friends here to meet her! Sammy and I will be leading the worship time.
Kim has finals next week and then the rest of the month off. He's taking a math class in the June term and then will be off until fall. Sean and Megan are coming for their first visit in June and Alex, Brittaney, and their little baby Blake will make their way up from Florida as well. With Sammy, Chris, and Sawyer having lived with us since the first of the year, we're gonna have a full house - and we can't wait!!! July we're hoping to go to Colorado for a couple of weeks to spend good time with the family and enjoy the dry, hot Colorado summer with its blue skies and peaches and chile peppers! Those are all the things we miss most - people, peaches, and peppers!
Well, that pretty much brings things up to date. I hope to be better about writing here - not just to update, but to also share more about what I see God doing… Kim and I are celebrating as the bible reading plan we started when we arrived here - to read the bible in a year together - will be finished in two days, finally. It's been a solid foundation for us to come together regularly to read scripture and pray together as often as we could. (As you can see, it hasn't turned out to be daily.)
We are so thankful for how God continues to grow us and use us and reveal to us even more of who He is and His great love for us. Just when you think you get a handle on it, He blows your mind again. God is still so very, very good and we are so very, very grateful.
Until next time...
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