A New Chapter

Well Friends - its time for a new chapter in my life - and hence time to take up new things - or in this instance to pick up again a project once started that for probably a myriad of reasons got set down for a while. I hope to keep up with this particularly as a way to keep up with old friends and especially make new friends with the congregation of Hopeland UMC.

We are in the midst of what in United Methodism is called a "transition week" - an in-between time - for clergy with new appointments. Last Sunday was my last at QUMC, next week is my first at Hopeland. It's good, I think, to make time for transitions. Time to let the past rest - and become the past - to rest - and take a little break before diving in to new present. We probably don't do that enough. In this fast paced world, we are always on the go. Jeanette's a lot better at taking things easy than me. I like to go go go - and that's not necessarily a bad thing - and part of it, I am sure is a personality thing - but its good for a go go go person to slow down once in a while.

Even so, in this transition week I have not especially been resting - just doing some different things. I took a really inspiring course at Lancaster Seminary with Jonny and Jenny Baker on the creative process of planning worship. It was so great to meet with Jonny after reading his blog for many years. You can read more about his ideas at jonnybakerblogspot.com I'll be doing some more thinking and writing on that in the weeks to come. I've been dreaming on how we might do some different kinds of worship at Hopeland at a time other than Sunday Morning..thinking of calling it "The Gathering". I was going to try to come up with some fun gaelic word - but then perhaps that would only confuse people! Watch for more to come! We ended up the week with a really GREAT time at the Celtic Fling at Mt. Hope winery. More about that to come as well!

Today, Jeanette and I are joining our dear friends Charlie and Marion Coon for an open house at "The House of Ruth" - a ministry of B.I.R.D. which is an outreach to women in Prison and helping them transition to life after prision. I wanted to go on a long hike this morning - but Jeanette said, "enough is enough. If you want me to walk at all on Monday, we rest today". Tis a wise woman I am married to! And besides that - there were plenty of little projects to attend to this morning here at home. Pray for me as i dive in to my work at Hopeland tomorrow! Peace.