ministry life

THE SPEED OF THE DAYS

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Has anyone else noticed that time seems to be going faster and faster?

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Maybe it is just because I am getting older and so have less time on this side glory than I used to have but it just feels like there is less time for more things and I am saying “no” to more things than ever before.

Last week the Lillie VI family arrived at the Vicarage and began to settle in. I cancelled almost everything on my schedule before they got here thinking that the settling in was going to need most of my attention. I was right and I was wrong. It was good I had the time so that I could help ease my son and his family into life here in Massachusetts. Jetlag really effected my grandson’s sleep schedule.

And so my son and daughter-in-law’s sleep schedule was likewise effected. They muscled through and it got a little better everyday. Then I got sick with a bug my son brought back from The Philippnes. I ended up cancelling even the things I had kept in the schedule.

The week ended with a family party for my oldest granddaughter.

This week our schedules went back to normal.

My son had two job interviews and two job offers. My daughter-in-law’s social security card came in and today the Lillie VI family is beginning the search for an apartment.

My schedule of meetings has been completely full to make up for last week and Amanda’s schedule has blossomed as we approach the coming of fall and the restart of our children’s school programs (it is unbelievable to me that we are almost to the start of the new school year!).

I am filled with awe at how fast things seem to be moving. At the same time I have this sense that it needs to be this way. Something is coming and we must be prepared.

DO YOU FEEL IT IN THE AIR? THERE IS A CHANGE COMING!

I Am Bowser

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It was a week of celebrations in a season of celebrations at the Vicarage.

Of course the Lillie VI family came home. HUGE CELEBRATION AT THAT EVENT!

Not only that though, this week marked my oldest granddaughter’s fifth birthday. That I have a five year old granddaughter is beyond astounding to me. That I have all my children and grandchildren within five minutes of where I live makes me unbelievably blessed. I will revel in it for however long I have the privilege of it.

Daniella decided she wanted a Princess Peach birthday party. She of course got to be Princess Peach.

Her sister got to be “Mickey Hero”…. I do not know who that is, but Abigail seems to have taken on the role with serious gusto.

We had a great party with all the royal attendants in attendance.

And I even got to play a role in the weekend….By royal edict of Princess Daniella Peach and Mickey Hero Abigail I was dubbed Sir Bowser The Monster Villain!

HOW MANY FAINTED?

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I walked in from church yesterday shouting my customary greeting, “I’m home!”

Apparently my holler was a little weak because Mom said, “You sound tired.”

She had it right.

I said, “I preached real hard today, Mom.”

“Was it a good sermon?” She asked.

“Well, I think so…”

“How many people fainted?” Mom asked.

“Fainted? No one fainted?” I returned.

“Then it wasn’t a good sermon.” Mom concluded.

Of course….I should have known that.

Most Fun Is Sticky

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Well the Lillie VI family ( my son’s family) is adjusting to life at The Vicarage. Jetlag is a real thing folks especially for two year olds. Sevy (Joseph Elon Lillie VII) has been up most of the night all week, which means his parents have been up most of the night all week.

We have been trying to keep him up, but when Sevy gets tired he pretty much just collapses and nothing can wake him.

So we have been trying to do some events that keep him active. We went to the farm the other night and got homemade ice cream and watched the animals.

His father and mother have been taking him on walks around town.

And yesterday they bought him some coloring and sticker books.

What I am learning is that most fun is sticky…at least for two year olds.

CLIMATE HEADACHE

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This summer has been sooo humid. We have had rain just about every other day. One system moves in followed by a small gap of good weather and then we are right back in.

We had two yellow alerts at church on Sunday. The first was a tornado watch at the beginning of worship and the second was a flood watch in the middle of my sermon. Both turned out to be nothing but the fact that we have now had three alerts this summer in Northern MA speaks to the volatile nature of our planetary climate.

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One of the personal effects of our crazy weather pattern is frequent headaches from the constant change in air pressure. I have one today and it is laying me low.

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WHAT DO YOU DO TO DEAL WITH WEATHER RELATED HEADACHES?

They’re back!

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Well, the Lillies are back from South Korea. My son, his wife and their son arrived home on Saturday afternoon with no mishaps, except the loss of their stroller. My daughter-in-law managed to keep my grandson entertained with the people movers while my son tried to find out what happened to said stroller.

We have spent the last few days, catching up, looking at pictures, and doing some small business errands while Joe and his family recuperate from Jet lag.

The Ones Who Carry the Song

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The kids and grandkids came over last evening. We took a walk to the playground with the kids and while the girls were sliding and climbing my daughter Melanie and I had a conversation about singing. I can’t sing like I used to. I am out of singing shape and my voice doesn’t obey me as it once did.

There was a time when I sang for a living. The congregation expected me to carry its song, and my bosses (the lead pastors) were expected to carry the vision. The song serves the vision and in a perfect world breathes life into the vision so the people are inspired to follow the vision’s path. I guess that is a little heady, but it is a good metaphorical explanation about the place of worship in a church congregation.

I am no longer the worship leader. I am the lead pastor. I now carry the vision and the song is carried by others.

Jody Clapp, our lead worship director and a deacon in the church

Melanie Franklin one of our worship leaders

Patrick Cortiss one of our worship leaders and an assistant at the Worship Room.

Jon Bauver one of our worship leaders and the director of the Worship Room. I am glad for those God has commissioned to carry the song now.

Storyworth, the New Lawn Mower and the Smoke From Fires

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I have a few random updates for you from The Vicarage today.

For Christmas last year, I bought my mother a subscription to the Storyworth App. I haven’t written much about it these last few months because I sort of fell off the story making wagon. But we have gotten back to it these last few weeks. I have been listening to stories about Mom’s first boss, Josephine Martin, and about how she got her first car. As with most things with Mom these days the stories come in small bits and pieces which I have to put together like a puzzle at the end, but that is half the fun really.

Yesterday I got the new mower set up and running.

It is so quiet. I love the fact that it is electric.

I did the front and side lawns last night. Those are my mowing boots.

Even Amanda got into the fun today. She doesn’t have mowing boots.

We are working hard to get ready for the arrival of Joe, Kristine and Sevy in just fourteen more days. I even bought three easy ups for use as family comes in to say hello to the returning Lillies.

Today the sky is extremely hazy and humid. According to our phone apps this is all due to the fires up in Canada.

I have been awakening in the middle of the night these last several night with severe muscle aches and headaches. I had to get up to take Motrin and stretch at 3 A.M. this morning. I didn’t even consider the cause, until breakfast, when my daughter asked if I have been sleeping with my window open.

Well that’s all for today. It is time for me to spend some time practicing tomorrow’s sermon.