It's Official

It is official: they voted yes....no, I'm not talking about the upcoming elections although Hubby had an election of his own.  Yesterday, a congregation in Texas voted to call Hubby as their next installed pastor.  Can I just say "YIPEE!!!!"  Especially since we are coming into the brrrr c-c-c-cold weather here in Rural, USA.  Hubby and I are going to be snowbirds-- we're flying south for the winter and not returning.

For seminary I'm reading the assigned book for the week called "Transforming Congregational Culture."  It's an excellent book if you've ever wondered what's happening in the mainline Protestant denominations.  We're shrinking and it's going to take more than an evangelism workshop to change the tide.  The author, Anthony B. Robinson, sets up the book in a "from/to" format.  That got me thinking about my own from/ to situation.

• turning in my snow boots and ear muffs to flip flops and sunscreen

•  missing the beautiful changing colors of the leaves to just green and brown

• leaving behind many friends to delight in God's tapestry of new

• leaving a basically one color community and moving to a wonderful community that is more representative of God's world

I could come up with more but I have to eat and get to work.

Sometimes you wonder if you've made a difference.  I'm sure Hubby has thought that, too.  I will leave you with a quote from one of our younger (in the 20's age bracket!!!) new members.  It is a personal message but I don't think the author will mind since he posted this onto Hubby's FB page!!  =)

"I am very thankful to have had you as a pastor Eric. When I first started attending church at first Presbyterian, I had very little faith. You spoke the word and made me want to grow my faith, more and more. You married and counciled (wife's name) and I, you even baptized our kids. I consider you and your family as my own. I will miss our in depth conversations about the word, life and everything else. We all will miss you guys, and we look foward to visiting you."