Tuesday Morning


This morning has dawned crisp, cool, and sunny. The record breaking heat wave is broken, fall has returned. I didn't really mind having summer back, even though fall was but an infant when summer blew back. Still it was hot and we are all ready for cooler temperatures. In the heat the leaves, which were changing colors, just dried up. Now, maybe the rest of the leaves have a chance to turn into glorious fall colors.

I had an interesting weekend. First I hosted the RevGals Preacher Party on Saturday. That was fun to create and stay connected with all day. It is a little intimidating, at first, to put up ones creation on such a public event, and hope it works. I am so grateful to the RevGals community for the support I have received over the last year. I'm happy to give back by taking on some of the leadership responsibilities.

Sunday I had a parishioner preach. It was the first in a series for the month of Oct. called, "Why I Come to Small Church." He did a nice job. I helped him connect his thoughts to the readings. Interestingly enough, what he was saying about his faith journey and his experience of worshiping at our church fit in well with the readings. There's the Holy Spirit for ya.

Sadly, though, being Columbus Day weekend, many of my parishioners were out of town. Between our two services we had less than 30 people. LESS THAN 30! Usually we are around 60. How can half the congregation be gone over one weekend?

Which makes wonder once again about the viability of small church. I got a call late Friday from a Deployment Officer for a Diocese that has been courting me. I have been in 4 search process for this diocese and not been offered a call by any of them. (Actually only one of the four was an exciting good fit, the others were all iffy, so I'm ok that none offered a call). Still. It brings up, yet again, do I stay or do I go. What makes it all the more difficult is that this Diocese is across the country, in the Southwest. I have to call this Deployment Officer back today and let him know if I am interested in having my name and materials submitted. This church seems to be good, so it has loads of potential. And it's BIG, so I appreciate that the Bishop thinks I am qualified to (potentially) lead it. Ahhh, so. I guess I'm going to put my name forth. Sigh.

Lastly.
Yesterday my family and I went into Chicago. Husband, daughter, Ryan, son, and son's friend, and me. We went to the Shedd Aquarium where I saw the Komodo dragon (woa).

Had a delicious lunch overlooking Lake Michigan.


Then Ryan and daughter went to the Dolphin show and the Field Museum

while the rest of us walked up to the Art Institute. Son and son's friend are taking a photography class in school. I thought they might see art in a new way now that they are actually working on it themselves. After the Art Institute we walked back the Shedd, past Buckingham Fountain, to the garage where our car was parked.


Last night I grilled Steelhead Lake Trout and steak. We ate that with some homemade pasta salad and potato salad (that I had made the day before) and steamed asparagus. We had a family dinner, laughing and sharing stories about our day. Good day.

Today, we are all back to our daily stuff. Work. School. And in Ryan's case, vacation. He's home until a week from Sunday. He has to be at the airport at 8:00am on Oct. 21 to return to Afghanistan. Sigh. Really enjoy having him home, having our family together. Although he is our daughter's boyfriend he is like a son to us and fits in so well with our family. After four years (they met when daughter was a sophmore and he was a senior in High School) I think he's a part of us forever.

Well. That's what's been happening in my world. Hope all is well with all of you...

Comments

Unknown said…
Thank you for giving us the chance to live with you today.

I greatly appreciate your words. Good luck to Ryan, I hope the best for him.
rev h-d said…
Prayers for you as you begin this process again. The southwest is always tempting to me, but that's just the Texan talking! Prayers go to Ryan as well. Blessings gal!
What a Chicago-fest! Thanks for sharing the stories and pictures.

And prayers on the discernment/deployment process. That is such a biggie.
should i stay or should i go now? yeah... tough question. tougher answer. sounds trite but isn't meant to "trust your gutt". our gutts really do serve as a spiritual barometer many times. on that note i'd advise staying away from anything cajun at the moment; investing in lots of prayer; heart to heart with hubby; and then go with your gutt.
Terri said…
what, no cajun?

sigh.

I guess part of the problem is I have always trusted my gut but these days it's not always the best barometer...and that is really disconcerting. But my gut says, as much as I want things here to be good and stable, they really may not ever be so... therefore I have to continue being open to a new call. If (when) that new call comes along then I trust I'll be ready for it...
Katherine E. said…
Would love to have you in the southwest, Mompriest!

Great pics. Sounds like a perfectly wonderful weekend and family time!

You're in my prayers.
Anonymous said…
There seem to be so many challenges associated with a small church (not that I've been a pastor, just judging from our previous church). For many, it's a struggle just to survive. Then there are others that start small and are thriving and growing in a short period of time.

I'll pray for the decision-making process. And if your gut isn't a good barometer, you could always try the old analytical approach. Get a sheet of paper, and start writing down the pluses and minuses for each option.
Rev SS said…
praying for you ... think you're doing good to be open to new thing God might have in store for you by letting them put your name in the hat and trusting God to show you if/when it's time to make a move. Thanks for sharing. Serena
Terri said…
Hey kievas, indeed, we need to be willing to follow the left brain right brain strategies and approaches. Some days one is better than the other!

thanks, serena. I need to email you, I miss you voice in the blog world...
Jan said…
Mompriest, busy, busy, busy! Our substitute priest on Sunday said he evaded God's call to the priesthood for 15 years by NOT allowing an open quiet space to appear. There you go--silence and openness to the Holy. I'd like you nearer in the SW, but you'd miss those autumns! Thanks for the pictures and tale of your adventures. My husband used to fish for steelhead when we lived in Oregon. Glad you feel that Ryan is part of your family--prayers for his safety.
Terri said…
Jan, yes, I'd miss the autumns, BUT not the winters...
Grace thing said…
Wonderful to be part of your day. I enjoyed the photos. Selfishly, I'd LOVE you to be in the Southwest. I really believe in answering cues when they come. When a door opens, we must walk through even though we don't know the outcome or even what is right...but the act of taking that leap into the doorway that has opened...leaves room for the Spirit. Praying for you...
Lori said…
What a lovely day. Prayers for Ryan indeed.

Should you stay or should you go?
You will get signs. I firmly believe we get signs. Sometimes directly. Sometimes indirectly. Sometimes as puns or sight gags.

You pray. You'll know.
Unknown said…
I'm a day behind, but want to say it sounds like a wonderful day. And I am always pleasantly surprised when I respond to the EXternal call. At the very least I learn something I needed to know.
Diane M. Roth said…
sorry I'm so late to this...but what a lovely day you had, and my prayers throughout your discernment. I know how you feel. someday, we'll come to where you are, too.
Terri said…
Well, I called the Deployment Officer back and told his assistant that I will send my materials in the next few days...so, here I go again.

Yes, I tend to agree, one has to follow the extended lead. Hard to turn away something that comes to me...

and I appreciate the prayers.
RevDrKate said…
Well I'm late to this comment but wanted to say my prayers are with you in the call process as you move forward. Sounds like Diane and I might want to think about having that trip your way sooner rather than later if things go well....
Terri said…
revdrkate, we have the better part of a year, these searches take FOREVER!

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