They Offered...

I accepted...

Thanks be God.

I'm grateful for your prayers.

(More later, I promise. I'm tuckered.)

10/16/08: Sorry I haven't dished yet. I've had a sore froat and now I am trying to get us packed to go out of town for Fall Break. I feel happy, blessed and in need of some sleep and fun with the fam. I'll be back soon!

Quick Post on a Tuesday Morning

I have written the principal about these things and have been told that she has been counseled to change her behavior. I hope she does. Otherwise....

On a more positive note, I am having dinner with the Pastor Nominating Committee of the church who sent spies tonight! Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Please keep doing it! :)

It Gets Worse...

The teacher I wrote about earlier is not my son's primary teacher, but his class goes over to her classroom for math and science instruction. I have spoken to some others parents the past few days and we are piecing together some comments that our children have said to us lately about this teacher.

In addition to the "devil's birthday comment," I have also learned that this teacher:

• has shown an "Adam and Eve" video to both classes,
• took a child aside and asked her, "Do you love Jesus?"
• would not let my son write "boo" on a picture he was drawing of some pumpkins,
• AND asked her class (not my son's) to journal about where they will go when they die.

Houston, we have a BIG problem here.

Say, What?!?!?

So, my second grader comes home yesterday asking me if Halloween is "the devil's birthday?" I say, "No, who told you that?" - thinking that one of his friends said that to him on the playground.

Nope...one of his teachers in our very PUBLIC elementary school told her students that they shouldn't celebrate Halloween because, if they do, they are helping the devil celebrate his birthday.

I told my son that if she ever says anything like that again, he has my permission to tell her she is being inappropriate for school.

Now, I'm trying to decide if I want to throw one devil of a fit or not.

Sunday Musings

I have really been an uninspired blogger lately, but I am doing well and have lots on my plate right now. I'm basking in the afterglow of a truly wonderful World Communion service where we served six different kinds of bread, including banana bread- yum! If I had permission, I would post the lovely liturgy one of our elders wrote for the presentation of the breads. She told me I could stick it in my files and use it whenever I wanted, and I most definitely will!

Right now, I'm hanging out in my office as I wait for the church picnic to begin in a few hours. I live 45 minutes away, so it's silly to go home. I'll catch a nap, perhaps watch a movie on my computer from netflix, eat some of this bread that's sitting on my desk!

Things are moving along with the church that sent spies. I have a second interview with them a week from Tuesday, which will be a dinner at a pastor nominating committee member's home. They are checking my references and Committee on Ministry wants to meet with me to discuss whether this would be a good match or not. I don't have to truly be "examined" by COM because I'm already a member of this Presbytery. Also, they aren't making me do a neutral pulpit, for which I am grateful. Most of the members heard me preach a year ago when I did pulpit supply and those who didn't came as spies last July!

The COM moderator told me on Friday that I should know one way or another within two weeks. Whee! It'll be good to know- either to tie up loose ends here and prepare for this new ministry or to regroup and refocus.

How are you this fine World Communion Sunday?

ETA: Any of y'all going to the RevGal BE2? I haven't registered yet, but I'm planning on going...and I'll need a roomie! :)

I Got Tagged!

RevKim tagged me for this meme of six unspectacular things about me. Oh, how to choose?

1. I have ten fingers and ten toes.

2. My vote in the presidential election is not going to matter one iota because of where I live. But I'll vote anyway.

3. My favorite color is blue.

4. I would dearly love to live in a place where I didn't need to have a car.

5. I hate, I hate, I hate school fundraisers. Children selling cheap-assed crap because schools aren't funded adequately just plain sucks.

6. Autumn is my favorite season. I'll be glad when it hits here- it's still summer here at 86 degrees!

I'm going to break rule #4 below, I'm too tuckered to tag anyone right now. Play if you like!

Meme Terms and Conditions
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. List six unspectacular things about you.
4. Tag six other bloggers by linking to them.

A Super Self-Absorbed Post Below

No time to post in any substantive way...I just wanted to say "happy 2nd blogoversary" to myself.

Still can't believe I have a blog! I love all my blogging buddies!

Tonight's the Night

No, I'm not talking about the creepy Rod Stewart song.

Tonight, I finally have my interview with the Pastor Nominating Committee that sent spies. Please pray for this ever-unfolding process of discernment.

ETA: It is 8:29 pm and I'm home now. Boy, oh, boy, did the interview go well! The hour and a half flew! I love that their very first question was, "So, how do you take care of yourself?"

Oooooh....I believe that this could be a very good match. We'll see...

No matter what, I greatly enjoyed my time with them.

I've Been Singing This Song All Day...

I guess I needed to remember that.

Tuesday Bullets

• In the nearly two years I have been blogging, I've gained a new gauge for measuring how I'm feeling by the frequency of my postings. When I'm depressed and/or seriously stressed, I don't blog. It's just another way I have to withdraw and not receive the support and love I know is out there. Why do I do that?

• Yesterday I began year two of spiritual director training- the Ignatius (or "Iggy") year. I'm coming back to the program after a year off because last year at this time, I thought I was going to do hospice chaplaincy for awhile. Stupid hospice.... I am excited about the discipline of the Iggy year and meeting again with my spiritual director.

• Next Tuesday, I am finally going to have an actual interview with the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) that sent spies to hear me preach several weeks ago. I'll keep y'all posted.

• Knowing that that particular church may not be my call, I have also been in contact with some other PNC's across the country. Two weeks ago I had a fantastic phone interview with a PNC. I got off the phone feeling energized, yet I have dragged my feet on sending them the sermon tape they requested. I still haven't. Part of it, I know, is that I really, really want the call here. Part of it is that I've been depressed, and also because hubby and I have been stressed out and fighting- a lot. I'm not sure if moving futher east (where this church is), when the support of our families is out west, would be the right thing to do right now. So, I have a "please take me out of consideration" e-mail ready to send, but I haven't yet.

• Our Presbytery just received a favorable ruling on a case that has been on-going for 2 years concerning the property of a congregation that has left the denomination. I am grateful for the ruling, as I truly believe it to be the right and fair decision. My heart still breaks because there are no winners, only broken relationships and resources diverted from ministry. May God bring healing to both sides.

It Never Fails...

Why is that when I run into old boyfriends out of the blue, I always look like ass?

Just askin'...

I don't really have anything to say, but I wanted to get that creepy inflatable Jesus off the top of my page!

Today is my birthday, though I don't really feel like celebrating. I feel like sleeping. Actually, I really want to be away from it all, hiking in my favorite Wyoming mountain range- here:

Inflatable Jesus

I saw this out of the corner of my eye as we were driving home from church and I made my husband exit off the highway so we could go see it. He sighed and said, "You want to take a picture of it for your blog, don't you?" Hee!

At first I thought it was a Jesus "jupiter jump" for kids. That would have been just too much!

You can see the hot air balloon in the background; it has a giant cross on it. Turns out this church doesn't have a building, but it's got a hot air balloon! They use the balloon as an evangelism tool. They get it out and see who stops by.

Hey, we did.

First Day Back in the Office...

I had an odd experience today, my first day back in the office since I've been back from vacation. (Yesterday was a Presbytery Council meeting- snooze-a-rama...)

A woman in my congregation called this morning and asked me if she could come visit me "right now." When she arrived, she told me that her daughter, who lives in another state needed some parenting advice. She then took out her cell phone, which didn't phase me because this woman is always multi-tasking, checking text messages, etc. I didn't realize that she was calling someone until I heard her begin to talk to her daughter saying, "Hi, sweetie. Here, talk to Pastor Iris, she has some advice for you."

okey-dokey... I just looked at the phone that had been put in my hand for a second. I couldn't say, while she had her there on the phone waiting, "no, I won't talk to her," could I?

It was so awkward- "um....okay... Hi, I'm Iris, your mom's pastor....I've never met you, but can I give you advice about your child?"

Okay, it was a little better than that, but I was very uncomfortable with the situation. The call was short, as I am not a child psychologist and I did not know her! I encouraged her to seek out professional assistance in her area and I prayed with her before hanging up.

I didn't know what to say after the phone conversation was over. This woman was so happy that I had encouraged her daughter, so I just gave her the name of a church and pastor I knew in her daughter's town to pass along to her daughter, as she is not connected to any congregation.

I have offered pastoral care on many occasions to people I have barely met, especially as a chaplain. But, having this woman thrust her cell phone into my hand was just weird. And she was quick with that cell phone!

Has anybody else had anything like that happen?

Time for some R&R

'nuff said...

Wanted: Miracle Worker

Position Description:

clean and organize my home while I am away on vacation next week.

Qualifications:

• have the ability to think exactly like me (in order to know what I would and would not throw out as well as to put things where I won't have to go searching for them later.)



• be extremely non-judgemental.

One can dream...one can dream...

Spies

I had visitors in worship today- two members from the Pastor Nominating Committee for this congregation.

I haven't yet had an actual interview with this PNC, but they have viewed a sermon DVD, have had me submit answers to supplemental questions and now have sent "spies" to hear me preach.

I'll take that as a good sign.

They gave me less than 24 hour notice that they were coming, though. I was a little freaked yesterday, but the sermon went well. Not a home run, but a base hit.

The hymn went over very well. I'm glad I chose to use it.

Friday Five: What's In a Name?

1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog?
I have written about this here before, but you may not have memorized everything I've written ! :)

I got Iris from my childhood. You see, when I was about 3 years old, I used to tell people that my name was Iris. My parents don't know where I heard the name, but I guess I fell in love with it and wanted it to be my name. My mom tells me that I would only answer "Iris" when asked, "What is your name?" However, I would answer with my real name whenever I was asked "Who are you?" So, I knew who I was, but my name was Iris.

Growing Where I'm Planted is taken from what my mom used to say to me growing up when I was feeling restless, which was all. the. time. She would say, "Iris, you need to just grow where you're planted." I would get kind of irritated when she would say that to me because my parents transplanted me so many times when I was young (over twenty times before I was ten years old.) I always felt so unrooted and ungrounded. It wasn't until I sensed the call to be a pastor when I was sixteen years old that I felt finally rooted and grounded in a love that had given me purpose and wholeness for my life. Then, I began to believe that I could take my mom's advice to "grow where I'm planted."

I'm still restless as hell, though.

2.Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there?

No, I haven't really used any code names in my blog. I've toyed around with some blog names for my kids and husband, but nothing has stuck.

3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?

I love Amy's blog title of Stories From the Red Tent because I love that book and it makes me think of women truly being in deep, sisterly relationship with one another. I also love the sense of hospitality I get from Mrs. M.'s blog name of The Kitchen Door with the subtitle "is always open."

4.What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals blog of course!

Just three? Just can't do it. Well, look at my sidebar and you can see to whom I am devoted!

5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why?

If I hadn't read the article about RGBP in "The Christian Century" in September of 2006, I would not be blogger today. Or at least I seriously doubt it. At the time, I thought blogging was only for narcissists or people who like to argue! I didn't realize that it could also be a wonderful way to build friendships and receive and give support. I had been craving this kind of community for a long time, but every time I would google "women pastors," I would come up with sites about pastors' wives or sites arguing against women pastors. I am pretty sure I know who wrote that piece for the CC and I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart.

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks?

I have met Linda from Against a Brick Wall on a few occasions. She is a fantastic, crazy-smart woman! I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Towanda last year when I was traveling. Towanda just graduated from the same seminary I did. My husband's family is in the area, so when we were visiting, I took Towanda out for lunch at what was my favorite Chinese restaurant when I was in seminary. Thankfully, it was still good!

Since so many do a "feet" picture for blogger meet-ups, we decided to so a "hands" picture in my sister-in-law's backyard!

It's Great to Have Files!

I took a wonderful class on parables my third year of seminary. My final project for the class was on this week's lectionary Gospel reading, Matthew 13:24-30, the parable of the weeds among the wheat. I had forgotten that I had even written this paper, funny how that happens! I came across my file on this project and it has helped me quite a bit as I prepare to preach this week.

The most delightful discovery in this file was to find a hymn text I had written as part of the project. It is to the tune of "Gather Us In," which is in the Catholic hymnal. I'm a little nervous about it, but I have decided to use it in worship.

Oh, and looking at the first line of the text, I guess I've had the name for my blog in my subconsciousness for a long time!

Inspired by the Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat

Matthew 13:24-30

1. Here in the field, we grow where we're planted.

Nourished by sunshine, soil and rain.

Planted with care, our lives have been granted,

Food for the many, the earth to sustain.

Grow in God's care, our roots will grow deeper.

Grow in God's care, our plants will grow tall.

We're not alone; we grow strong together.

Yielding abundantly for one and all.

2. We have been sown as good seed to prosper,

Growing together to serve in God's name.

Yet all around are weeds in our number,

sown by an enemy, dark night he came.

It's not for us to weed out the other,

Not to employ the hoe and the scythe.

We have been called to love one another,

Extend to others the hope of new life.

3. Hopes may be dashed; our stalks may be broken,

Loneliness, sadness, sorrow and shame.

Here in the field, life words should be spoken.

Tending the field is the Farmer's domain.

Grow in God's care, from near to the farthest.

Grow in God's care, by the truth of the Word.

We know not the time, so wait for the harvest.

We shall be gathered to dwell with the Lord.

ETA: blogger will not let me put spaces between the verses. Sorry if it's hard to read. grrrrr.....

New Gal in the Blogging Neighborhood

I have a friend who is just now sticking her cyber toe into the blogging waters! Since you need to have been blogging for at least three months to be admitted into the revgal ring, I thought I'd introduce her to my blogging buddies to get her started! (Man, I'm glad that rule wasn't in place yet when I joined. I'm certain that it would have discouraged me from beginning to blog, but I understand that several new bloggers joined about the same time I did and then petered out.)

She is blogging under the pseudonym of soonerpastor. Her name reflects where she comes from, not where she currently is serving. She's a lovely young woman, currently serving in her first ordained call and, just like I was nearly two years ago, is craving the supportive community that we enjoy.

Would you please help me welcome soonerpastor to the blogosphere?