revmusings

The induction was an amazing experience. The church was packed to overflowing and so we had to use a side room and the crèche! The worship was good and the preacher was excellent. I will remember his statement to me: ‘God believes in you’ -  for the rest of my life. (I promise Neil)

There seemed much joy at what God had done bringing church and minister together at this point but also about what God will do – there seemed a real sense of excitement about the future.

We were so pleased to see so many family and friends there – many had travelled great distances from north and south to be there – thank you all. (and all the prayers and greetings from those not able to be there – we missed you!) They too seemed to see in our new church what we had – a community committed to God and each other, who worked together as a team and welcomed all comers with genuine love and care. Thank you all - I am so blessed to have such a great team with which to work.    (see I remembered my grammar !).

The weekend continued with a great service on Sunday morning and a lovely bunch of flowers and cards from lots of people as it was my birthday. My husband then whisked me off to lunch with my mum, aunt and uncle and then a surprise trip to Canterbury and a night in a hotel with very creaky floorboards but it was great! It was good to really relax after the very busy and stressful last few weeks. We went to Herne Bay and Whitstable on the way home in the snow!

Now the work begins….and a deacon’s meeting beckons this week where we begin to plan for the future

Watch this space….

Today I am being induction to a new pastorate in Kent. Its feels like a long journey especially with all the problems of the move and in many ways I am already their minister - I have had various meetings, arranged more, have done some pastoral care, prepared worship, but today is a marker. On my facebook page I began writing:

Induction day...the start of a new journey -

but then I reflected more on that statement and added this:

or a continuation of the only journey there is so a just a new staging post along the way

As I thought about the jouney thus far I can see how God is using all that I am, all the expriences I have had for this next stage. The past is important to the future.

I also discovered once again how God works in an integrated way. A few days after I had accepted the call here I wnet away on a conference. There is always a quiet room with vraft stuff so I went and I eneded up drawing ( I am no good at it) and drew a tree with deep roots and then overflowing with fruit that others came to. Also I wrote some verses on the back. I didn't look at it again till yesterday as I prepared my story for the service. When I retrieved it from  the car where I had left it for safety during the move and turned it over I re-read whatIi had written back in Sept.

There I found Colossians 2:6-7:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

The first night I arrived here one of the elders gave me card with the church's text for this year - yes you have guessed it:Col 2:6-7!

God is working, and I know will continue to work, through both church and minister as we continue on the next stage of our respective journeys together for a season.

'The adjective busy set as a modifier to pastor should sound to our ears like adulterous to characterize a wife or embezzling to describe a banker. It is an outrageous scandal, a blasphemous affront'  (Peterson, Contemplative Pastor, p.17.)

Discuss