Pastoral Care Overload

I have another funeral this Saturday- my third one with this congregation. She was a really wonderful woman. She asked me to preach Luke 9:62 at her funeral, which is,

"Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’"

She was a published author and she told me that this verse described "the way I see myself since I began writing." What a woman.

I may have yet another funeral soon- a woman who was a member of the Pastor Nominating Committee who was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer in the middle of the call process. She's only in her mid-50's, but very, very sick.

I appreciate your prayers for these people and their families...and for me.

Did I mention I just began this call on January 1st?

I Had Never Been a Field Trip Before...

Last week the daughter of one of my older members called me up to invite me to go to lunch with her, her daughter and her two nephews, all of whom are home schooled teenagers. She said that they had just finished studying the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy. (I thought, "um, wow. I had very little notion of those events until...well, seminary!")

This woman and her daughter worship at a non-denominational "Bible" Church and the nephews and their family are members of a Presbyterian Church of America congregation-very conservative, with no women in ordained leadership. Not even Elders or Deacons.

She said that she was aware that these young people were pretty insulated religiously and she thought it would be good for them to have a conversation with a "thinking, faithful person who comes at things from another perspective." Also, she said, "They have never met a woman pastor before." She probably said four times, "We aren't going to grill you!"

Because of the sweet way she asked and because I have a lot of affection for her father, I said I would be glad to meet them for lunch, which we had today.

I met them at Panera Bread and they bought me lunch! Yay! (1/2 Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich and Harvest Orchard salad. Yum!) After we ate and chatted a bit, they began with their prepared questions, asking for my thoughts on the infallibility of scripture, creation, heaven and hell, end times, miracles, interfaith dialogue and the person of Jesus Christ.

I was so very impressed with the respectful way in which they asked the questions and how they seemed to really listen to my answers. Although I could tell that they disagreed with many, if not most, of my answers, they never argued with me or looked visibly disgusted by my more liberal take on things. Actually, I could tell that they were really thinking about my answers, especially as I spoke about my emphasis on the authority of scripture rather than inerrancy.

Of course, they may be praying that I become a Christian someday. :)

Symphony No. 9 (Scherzo)

I've been a poor blogger, so just for fun, I'm doing this meme I saw at knittinpreacher's place. Play if you want!

1. Put your iPod, ZUNE or other music player on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got it from. (if you like...)

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY? "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John (an apt response for not responding!)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? “Everyday is a Winding Road" by Sheryl Crow (that's about right...)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? "Desire" by U2 (!!!)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE? "Airplane Over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? "Birdhouse in Your Soul" by They Might Be Giants :)))

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? “Silent All These Years" by Tori Amos (hmmm...)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? "Sunny Day" by Deana Carter

WHAT IS 2+2? “With or Without You" by U2

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter" by Pearl Jam (sorry, friend!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? "Walk on the Ocean" by Toad the Wet Sprocket

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? "Hey Ya!" by Outkast (that's about right...especially the shake it like a Polaroid picture part!)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? " The Long Way Around" by the Dixie Chicks

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? "Highway Blues" by Marc Seales

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? "Addicted" by Kelly Clarkson (ha!)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? "Since I've Been Loving You" by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? “Sorry" by Push Monkey

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? "You Found Me" by Kelly Clarkson

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? "I Keep Forgettin'" by Michael McDonald (How convenient...)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? "Blow Away" by George Harrison (okay, that's so not true!)

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? "Walk Like an Egyptian" by the Bangles

HOW WILL YOU DIE? "Best of Both Worlds" by Hannah Montana (I guess I die of embarrassment because you now know that this song and "Walk Like an Egyptian" are on my ipod...hey I have a 5 year old daughter!)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET? "Something So Strong" by Crowded House

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? "Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by They Might Be Giants (this is true- Presbyterian youth "energizers" can be very funny!)

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? "Freeway" by Aimee Mann

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED? "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac (huh.)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? "Wise Up" by Aimee Mann

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? "Worlds Apart" by Jude Cole

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? "City Don't Cry" by Page and Plant

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? “If You Want Me" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (from the movie "Once"..and yeah, this song answers this question pretty damn well.)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? "Symphony No. 9 (Scherzo)" by Beethoven- played by the Seattle Symphony

Quick bullets points...

• I am still in need of prayers for me and my family. I am so sorry to be vague, but it has to be that way.
• My installation service is tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it and am so very grateful to those who will be participating. I just wish things were going better so I could enjoy it more fully. Hopefully, I will be able to set all of it aside for an hour and just receive and thank God.
• First thing Thursday morning, I had a talk with my AA telling her that "shushing" her boss (me) was probably not the best move for her professionally. I am not sure that it is going to work out with her, not just because of the shushing, but because she doesn't seem to have a second gear and it seems like it is such a struggle to get things done on time. I don't want to have to do so much supervision. However, I am VERY loathe to put someone out of work in this economy. Let's hope we'll see some improvement. I'd hate to be an AA. I'd last less than a week, I'm sure.

Unbloggable

Your prayers are much appreciated. Truly.

There is so much that is just unbloggable.

Professionally, everything is going so very well.

Personally, so very not.

ETA: Everything is going well professionally, except I just got "shhhh-ed" by my Admin. Asst. WTH?