Putting up the Christmas tree might have been a bit premature. We didn’t calculate for a two-year-old who loves shiny Christmas bulbs. We’ve been finding them all over the house and various states of distress. So tonight, Kristine and Joe defrocked the bottom of the tree. I think it looks like the tree has no pants. What do you think?
My personal schedule shifted recently and I took on more meeting ministry opportunities. Up until last April,Tuesday through Friday was probably my most busy part of the week. I did a lot of personal meetings, a staff meeting and at least one prayer service on those days.
But in the Spring God changed things up. The church needed another set of hands in our boys Doing Life Together Group. Then in August it became apparent that I was going to be taking over a new adult Doing Life Together group along with a return to worship ministry.
Now Sunday to Tuesday is my gauntlet time. Sunday morning generally starts around 4:30 A.M. This week I did morning service and an afternoon funeral (last week it was an afternoon Chili cook off). Mondays are Bible study, devotional video and worship set. Tuesdays are devotional video, staff meeting and Boys Doing Life Together group. By Wednesday I am ready to drop.
I have made Wednesdays an actual Sabbath where I am being very strict about not leaving the house.
WHAT IS THE MOST BUSY PART OF YOUR WEEK?
Pastoring has many complexities. Most of those complexities have to do with personalities and characters. Most of the jobs I actually do are fairly simple. Today for instance, I was pastor of arts and crafts.
Halloween is not really my holiday. But it’s a big deal around here so we often try to find alternatives to celebrate the day. Over the years, we’ve done all kinds of things. We’ve done harvest parties, day, trips, to Boston, trunk or treats. One year we even got kids gospel tracks and handed them out along with the candy, anything to sort of Christianize the day.
This year we bought lots of candy, put it in big bowls on the porch for the kids out trick-or-treating, and we decorated our Christmas tree. Amanda made our traditional Christmas tree, decorating food, beef, pinwheels, and veggie pizza. Joe and Kristine bought eggnog and three different kinds of juice and soda, I made an American chop Suey and we feasted. And we put decorations on the Christmas tree while greeting our neighbors as they came around.
It was a great night, and the beginning of a wonderful family tradition
I like playing with Photoshop. I haven’t taken any time to do it for a while. Here is my latest attempt with one of the pictures I took of the super moon the other night.
Yesterday, was a huge day of celebration at Cornerstone Church Winchendon. WE baptized six new believers, welcomed four people into fellowship as members and we held a DLT chili cook off to help raise money towards our new parking lot. It was a great fellowship sponsored by one of our DLT groups, The Blessing Bunchg of Mixed Nuts. Here are some photos from the day.
In the end the ladies group, Beter Together took home first prize.
The house around the corner from the Vicarage goes all out for Halloween and Christmas.
Last night as I was walking the dogs, I just had to stop and take this photo. The trees were so amazing illuminated by the dual light of the super moon and the scary clown.
One of the DLT groups in our church is hosting a chili cook off tomorrow. The proceeds go towards our new parking lot at the church. Today was decoration day.
Each group submitting a chili got a church door to decorate. Here is the door of the sponsoring group, The Blessing Bunch of Mixed Nuts.
The Book Club door.
While I was at Bible study this morning, my daughter-in-law broke out the Christmas tree. I was just thinking this morning that it was almost time to decorate the Vicarage.
Notes From the Vicarage 