council...
We have had our first council meetings since I have been around the Bethlehem-Eidsvold Parish. The thing is that with two congregation there are two council meetings and then a third joint council meeting to boot. So...tomorrow night is the last meeting. So far there is no resistance to what I have proposed (Good News), but I also received very little feed back (Indifferent News). I suppose I should be cautiously optimistic with that as I would freak out if I were challenged too much right now. But I am praying for some excitement and sense of where the energy is.
Now I have learned some cool things. At one congregation their giving to mission (synod, missionary, etc...) is at about 35%. I am totally stoked about that, and they are way in the black for the year. The average attendance is about 30 at that church right now. I have a lot to learn from them.
On the two visits I did today both asked me if the world was coming to an end. What is going on. Then I started thinking...what do you do if you can't go to your church on Sunday? You watch TV and then you listen to the radio for a couple more hours on Sunday morning. Dispensationalism (or however you spell it) is rampant. One woman told me that they were going to start using thumb prints at the local grocery and that it was going to replace money, one of the last prophecies to be fulfilled. The mark of the beast, etc...AND THEN, gulp, she asked me what I thought after she talked for 5 minutes (me carefully listening). With all respect for this 90+ year old woman I said that our Lord Jesus has said that we would neither know the time or the place of his coming. I said I thought finger ID'ing was a good idea with all of the fraud out there and that I didn't think it would replace money. I told her that I believed in prophecy, but we need to be careful what we are saying God is saying, etc...and it was very quiet for a while! (gulp). I then asked her if she would join me in Holy Communion. She said yes, and then asked me several questions about communion. Told me that more pastors need to be bold and understand prophecies. I told her that God is present with us and that she is united to the Body of Christ that is our congregation and beyond through the meal.
Yeah, the good Lord will have to be the Great Translator if we are to end up on the same page.
Both visits today told me about a past pastor who was gay.
I am trying to take life a little less seriously these days, despite the immediate joys.
Paz.
posted by Chad K @ 9/07/2005 10:30:00 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
sheesh...makes you want to quit visiting if only to remain in blissful ignorance, believing that the world might go on a few more weeks...
you are incredibly thoughtful, patient, and direct. i have always experienced you that way, and have learned so much from conversations with you because of that. i have no doubt you said exactly what she needed to hear, and i know you gave her exactly what she needed to eat.
may god be with you this weekend.
dear god, three council meetings? i can hardly stomach one a month. but i guess with two parishes working together it is important to meet and stay "on the same page." communication, as we all know and continue to learn, is vital to holding this thing together.
interesting comment about the past gay pastor. was it in the context of, "he was a good guy yet..." or "thank god he is gone" or something altogether different? i always wonder why people are telling me the stories they are telling. what is their agenda.
i worry that this is to analyitical and perhaps suspicious, but i think it is vital to be aware that folks are trying to influence me.
hope you all have a great week.
Yeah, Erik I am very analytical as well. 1/2 or 1/3 of the people I have visited have mentioned this to me about the gay pastor. Funny thing is that they seem to not have known until later for sure, but they each said they figured so. Anyways, right or wrong, they seem to be glad that I am married. :) There is a strong set of traditional values.
The great news is that they have a very healthy system dealing with things I have run across. I suppose I am being tested to see how I react. Hit the edges right away...dispensationalism and sexuality! Paz
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