Back At The Helm

It was with a bit of nervousness and anxiety that I came back to work.  Don't get me wrong -- I was truly thankful to come back and see everyone again.  It's just that I so want to be able to continue some of the things I feel I need to be doing now, and not just go back to "everything as usual" status.  Things have changed.  I certainly have changed.  My hope is that as the days go on, I will be able to continue the discipline of being true to my calling and do what the church needs done.  I am so thankful for folks who have taken up all of the assorted things I used to be doing.  I hope they continue, or at least until we all can find someone who is able to carry those tasks on.  After all, the church is everyone, and I should not be doing some of those things when someone is able to carry those things out and be involved.

Thanksgiving is upon us, and it is time to remember how truly thankful we need to be for all of God's blessings.  This year has been a real blessing to me.  There are not strong enough words to use to illustrate how I feel about this last year.  I only know that I have been truly blessed.  Now, if we can get some of the ideas in my paper off the ground...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and take care, my friends.

Alan

Now In California...

Dr. Dan and I are in Santa Barbara, California at a seminar presented by the Alban Institute on "Finishing Strong, Ending Well: Faithfully Completing a Ministry Career."  It has been so rewarding and enlightening for me, not to mention it validates a great deal of what I have been doing on this sabbatical.  There is a sense of completion coming on for me regarding this sabbatical.  I am pleased with what I have written, and feel prepared to share some new things at the church in a fashion that might bring about some good changes.  We are a very good church.  Our youth ministry is something we can be proud of; however, it is important to know and remember that we cannot remain stagnant -- and that we always consider what is important for ALL those young people we have the privilege to serve.

It's hard to imagine I will be coming back on board this coming Sunday!  I hope and pray that I can ease back in with everyone, and that we can give some serious consideration to some new roles I am asking to play in my work.  That is important -- not just for me -- but more importantly, for the church itself.

This California experience is capping off a wonderful, enlightening, spiritually uplifting, and life-changing three months of my life.  I am honored and humbled that the church would do what it has done in order for me to experience all of this.  I am indebted to so many people -- the committees, the teachers, the church staff, and a special word of thanks to all of the youth leaders who have been so faithful and dedicated.  (Just a reminder: we meet this Saturday evening (even through my jet lag!) at my house for dinner -- don't miss it, youth leaders!)  

The blog, as promised, will continue -- because I think it is important to see what transpires as the result of the sabbatical.  The story does not end at the end of this week.  The "road" still continues. 

Take care, my friends.

Alan

It's the Beginning of Transition

As I put finishing touches to a major paper on a Proposed Plan of Action, I keep discovering more things that need to be added.  Ugh!  In addition, I am making time to do some baking for Christmas (the annual Christmas Cookie Bake-Off is in full swing) because of the finishing week of my sabbatical will be spent in California at a seminar geared to help put focus on how to best serve the church as I retire in six years.  Whew!

This has been a remarkable journey for me, and I have learned a great deal about myself, my hopeful role in the church, and more ideas and thoughts about direction and focus for our church than I could have ever imagined.  I also know that coming back into the day-to-day operation of the church will be a bit strange at first.  However, I hope and pray that I can bring with me the experiences of this time away that can enhance our working together and bring about some great changes for our church.  In fact, I have asked the Education and Enrichment Committee to try to keep all the volunteers who are doing my work to stay in place for the time being as we wrestle with what my role needs to be in the future.  Obviously, the Personnel Committee and the Session are really the ones who will make that decision.  

There are several things I am trying to be sure take place: a disciplined time for reading.  This one is extremely important.  To keep up with all of the areas of ministry we cover as a church, this one needs to be happen.  Devoting specific time will be important, so that we can be current and even on the cutting edge in many areas.   Another thing is to set aside some definite time with Barbara.  If there has been anything taxing about the sabbatical, it has been the time away from Barb -- some of those times were pretty lengthy.  Date Night needs to happen with regularity, with nothing standing in the way.  One of the things I talk about in the Proposed Plan of Action deals with relationship-building.  Well, Barb and I need to continue having that happen -- even at our lengthy number of years we have been together!  Another area has to do with a continuing feeding through worship, prayer, and experiences that feed my soul.  I SO need that, and I believe will benefit everything that I do as a worker for Christ.

Finally, California-bound we are: Dr. Dan and I will be sharing this experience; and hopefully, we will be able to listen carefully, provide thought and ideas to the mix, and come away from this seminar we are attending with a better sense of direction for each of us as we can see the end of our careers in sight.  I dearly love my church, and want to be a better servant.  The sabbatical has provided time for me to think, to write, to dream, to now share some ways that all of that could happen.  I miss my colleagues in ministry at the office, I really miss seeing our youth of the church, and I also miss being with my friends who make up our church -- and am eager to be back amongst them again.  It has been strange -- not necessarily having to look at the calendar or the clock -- routines will have to change very soon!  That's O.K., I believe it is time.  

This blog has been a wonderful experience for me, and I hope and trust that anyone who has cared to read the postings has caught some insight on what I have experienced.  I believe it would be worth the time and effort to put some continuing transitions on here so that people will understand the journey just a little more.

Take care, my friends. 

Alan