Claimed, gathered and sent

The best, most rewarding and sometimes the hardest part of being a pastor is the sacred spaces that people allow you into. Since Palm Sunday, I have spent more time walking, praying and just accompanying my parishioners at the hospital, the funeral home and in circumstances of life. It's a sacred and sometimes sad privilege to be let into people's lives like that. Saturday the church council and I  went to Camp Penuel in Eldred, PA for a church council retreat. We are blessed to have such committed leaders. It was a really good retreat and I thank God for his work among us as we studied, prayed and tackled the subject of change and what that might look like at Bethel.  We also set some BHAGs--big, hairy, audacious goals. Then yesterday was Good Shepherd Sunday and it felt strange to be away from church. I was traveling to S. C. for the Evangelical Lutheran Coalition for Mission in Appalachia Assembly as  one of my synod's delegates to the assembly. It was a very...

In the church, September is always a busy time. People return who have spent time away during the summer. School and the church program year begins again. And in my case, three weeks in a row involved some travel and time away. There were several "firsts' for me as a pastor last month and they were practically back to back. Early in the month I attended the ordination of a dear classmate from seminary. This is the first time I have done so since my own ordination in July. This means I was able to "vest and process" (wear my own clerical garb and process in with other clergy). It also means that when it was time for the laying on of hands of my dear friend, I was able to do so with other pastors. I was able during much of the service to watch my friend's face and see the peaceful glow of God's presence in her life. I had the joy of performing my first baptism--of a 14 year old boy who was taller than I am. Ok, those of you who know me...no laughing. I kn...