Last spring, I do not remember the exact date although I could look it up, I blogged on more than one occasion that language said it all. The content of those blogs were that as long as the stories of the past dominated our conversation, we would be mired in the past with all of its hurtful emotions. But, when we began to talk about the future we were moving on to a new life. Verb tenses are very important when it comes to language. “I should have ...” is past tense while “the next time I will...” is future tense.
I wrote those blogs as a way to point out the hope I was beginning to see at Epiphany. I wrote them to compliment you and the hard work you were doing to put the past behind us. The words in the blogs were true: we were changing. And, we have continued that change to the present time. Again, I compliment you.
Over the last month, the language of Epiphany began to change once more. At first the new language was just a trickle employed by one or two people. Last week the new language became much more prevalent as it was used several times a day by several disciples at Epiphany. Before I share with you what the new language is, let me state as loudly and firmly as possible that the new language is a good thing. It is very positive. We all should rejoice in it.
The new language at Epiphany is, “Are you still here? We have to get on with this call process.” This was said before the word was out about Pastor Woodward. As word leaked out about having a new senior pastor, the language became, “I am really excited about the new pastor.” Then, so my feeling would not be hurt, “We will miss you” was added to the sentence. On Thursday after my last VBS session and on Sunday morning after church, several people said their “Goodbye” to me.
The new language proclaims a message of hope. Epiphany is ready to move on into the future. It is ready for long-term leadership in the senior pastor’s office. It is ready to build upon its strengths. It is ready to regain its reputation of being a vital alive church proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus by serving others.
I still have a few things that I want to accomplish while I am at Epiphany. I am working with Ken Proehl and the Stewardship Task Force for this year’s stewardship campaign. (I expect the same positive response as occurred last year as a way of welcoming your new senior pastor.) I am working with those who primarily worship at Austin to implement their growth plan as they grow our church. I have met with the Drama Team and hope to meet with them at least once more. Then, of course, there are still four more sermons to be written and preached. Through all of this, keep the new language growing for it is a sign of just how far we have come as a congregation over the last 19 months. Continue to be excited and full of anticipation of the arrival of your new senior pastor. The new language at our church is very positive and proclaims who we are as we anticipate a new future.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
One Stage To Another
On Thursday, I will be presenting the final session of a four session series titled PUZZLES OF LIFE. Thursday’s topic will be how to move from one life stage to another as we journey through the life God has given to each of us. In preparing for this presentation, I have looked at ways that human beings prepare to move from adolescence to young adulthood, from young adulthood to middle age, from middle age to young old, and from young old to old. I have also looked at how congregations move from being numerically small, to mid-size, to large. Following are somethings that I plan to say:
First, I want to affirm that every stage of life, be it an individual’s life or in a congregation life, is a gift from God. Each stage has its benefits and its challenges. The temptation is to overvalue the benefits of the current stage and undervalue the benefits of the up-coming stage. The reason for this is that the challenges of the present stage are known, and hopefully mastered, while the challenges in the up-coming stage are unknown. In addition, others delight in telling the horror stories about the challenges of the up-coming stage while forgetting to mention the joys and rewards. Moving from one stage to another begins with affirmation of the benefits of both stages.
Second, when moving from one stage to another, it’s helpful to make a list of what we will miss most in the current stage. Once the list of what we will miss is complete, a second lists defines what will take the place of the items on the first list. Until we find a substitute for what we will miss, we will be filled with mourning and grief for what we have left behind. For example, we will miss our jogging partners who want to run five miles but we know that our maturing bodies can only run three miles.
Third, right on the heels of defining what we will miss, it’s helpful to define what are the opportunities that God is providing in the next stage of life that are not available to us in our current stage? For example, when the kids were living at home, we spent most of our discretionary income on them. Being empty-nesters allows us to spend our discretionary income on other interests. It is a simplistic statement but I believe as God closes one door God will open another door. The question is, Will we even look for a new open door as familiar doors close?
Fourth, it’s helpful to re-phrase the above items two and three by asking, What are the ways we plan to serve God and make a difference in the world? I believe that when we feel and believe that we are making a difference, life is filled with joy and meaning.
In many ways my presentation is very personal for me and for Epiphany. We all know that I as an individual and you as a congregation are moving from the stage of an interim pastor to the stage of a new senior pastor. I am already thinking through the above questions. As you begin to anticipate a new senior pastor, it might be helpful to think about the new opportunities and the new doors that God will provide and open at Epiphany. It might also be helpful to think about the ways that you can help to make the transition to the new stage in Epiphany’s life easier for you and your new pastor.
Pastor Pete
First, I want to affirm that every stage of life, be it an individual’s life or in a congregation life, is a gift from God. Each stage has its benefits and its challenges. The temptation is to overvalue the benefits of the current stage and undervalue the benefits of the up-coming stage. The reason for this is that the challenges of the present stage are known, and hopefully mastered, while the challenges in the up-coming stage are unknown. In addition, others delight in telling the horror stories about the challenges of the up-coming stage while forgetting to mention the joys and rewards. Moving from one stage to another begins with affirmation of the benefits of both stages.
Second, when moving from one stage to another, it’s helpful to make a list of what we will miss most in the current stage. Once the list of what we will miss is complete, a second lists defines what will take the place of the items on the first list. Until we find a substitute for what we will miss, we will be filled with mourning and grief for what we have left behind. For example, we will miss our jogging partners who want to run five miles but we know that our maturing bodies can only run three miles.
Third, right on the heels of defining what we will miss, it’s helpful to define what are the opportunities that God is providing in the next stage of life that are not available to us in our current stage? For example, when the kids were living at home, we spent most of our discretionary income on them. Being empty-nesters allows us to spend our discretionary income on other interests. It is a simplistic statement but I believe as God closes one door God will open another door. The question is, Will we even look for a new open door as familiar doors close?
Fourth, it’s helpful to re-phrase the above items two and three by asking, What are the ways we plan to serve God and make a difference in the world? I believe that when we feel and believe that we are making a difference, life is filled with joy and meaning.
In many ways my presentation is very personal for me and for Epiphany. We all know that I as an individual and you as a congregation are moving from the stage of an interim pastor to the stage of a new senior pastor. I am already thinking through the above questions. As you begin to anticipate a new senior pastor, it might be helpful to think about the new opportunities and the new doors that God will provide and open at Epiphany. It might also be helpful to think about the ways that you can help to make the transition to the new stage in Epiphany’s life easier for you and your new pastor.
Pastor Pete
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