I don't know if I ever wrote about the last service at the church. It has been a while now, and that probably helps to give me some clarity. To say it was a surreal experience would be a gross understatement.
The situation of the stained glass continued. Even on the day of the last service, we were dealing with the whole "we feel we deserve the stained glass." Even after telling the players that if it was donated to the church, it belonged to the church, it still continued.
I got to the service early, which was a good thing. A colleague arrived early which was nice; having the support during this time was need. The bishop arrived shortly thereafter and proceeded to piss me off. I asked what I needed to do and he looked at me like I lost my head. He said, "Nothing." I said, "So do I sit in the congregation?" Again the look like I was nuts. "No, you vest and read the gospel." (I hate being made to feel like a fool when I have no idea what is happening. I have never closed a church before.)
Only two of the board members were present. One was sick, but the other two just decided to not show up. I guess it just exemplifies the situation. The leadership could not even come.
There were colleagues, former parishioners, and local clergy there. The people that I did not want to show up did not show up.
All in all, it was a good thing.
After the service, we too off for Iowa to celebrate my parents' birthdays.
Showing posts with label Church Stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church Stuff. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Congregational Meeting
Well, the congregation met and voted unanimously to close the congregation. There was some discussion of how we could find ways to keep the congregation going, but in the end, it was decided that anything we could think of would only be a band-aid. To truly make changes, we would need much more money than we could raise. So, sadly, the vote was taken and we will be closing.
The soonest we would be closing is three weeks from now. The congregation wants to go until Easter, but that would be very difficult. It would also be dragging out the process for a long time. If I learned anything from the closing of Nick's congregation, it is that dragging out the closing process is not generally a good idea. But the congregation is saying that is what they want to do. We did not follow this train of thought too long, instead reminding people that it is quite an emotional vote and we will discuss closing dates after we receive more information from the Bishop's office.
The soonest we would be closing is three weeks from now. The congregation wants to go until Easter, but that would be very difficult. It would also be dragging out the process for a long time. If I learned anything from the closing of Nick's congregation, it is that dragging out the closing process is not generally a good idea. But the congregation is saying that is what they want to do. We did not follow this train of thought too long, instead reminding people that it is quite an emotional vote and we will discuss closing dates after we receive more information from the Bishop's office.
Friday, March 04, 2011
Ok, I want to get off the ride now...
Just heard from the Bishop's office, there is no severance. There are no places here that I would be appropriate. I will get a good review, but I have to go out and find that call!
So, after getting bashed, berated, slandered, and generally attacked, I get to put on a happy face and start asking for a job. No severance, no unemployment. "Thanks and didn't you have somewhere to go in the morning?"
If I had known this, I would have worn a cup.
So, after getting bashed, berated, slandered, and generally attacked, I get to put on a happy face and start asking for a job. No severance, no unemployment. "Thanks and didn't you have somewhere to go in the morning?"
If I had known this, I would have worn a cup.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Stress Levels and Other Things
Well, as of right now, I have no idea what is happening.
Are we closing? Probably.
When? Elephino!
What am I going to do afterward? Elephino!
Will we have to move? Elephino!
Will we have to break our lease? Elephino!
How are we going to pay bills? ELEPHINO!
I think this is time the when the pastor has to truly step forward, but it is also at this time when the pastor wants to just jump in the car and drive south. I am so incredibly stressed at the moment that I can barely function. I don't know what is happening both in the church and in my life. Depending upon what is happening in the church, our life could take some completely different turns. I have been in this situation before, and I really don't like it. The congregation is losing their church but for Nick and me, our life is in a tailspin. The concept of making any kind of plans feels like an exercise in futility.
I will be getting into contact with the Bishop's office, so hopefully there will be some answers. But I just want to sleep until this is over.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Fateful Meeting
Well, we are still alive as a congregation. We may be gone in a month, but as of now we are still here.
The meeting was a whole lot of fun. The one council member who decided to dog me when I was gone decided to come to the meeting. But this was only because another council member asked her. She would not respond to any of my notes, calls, or e-mails. Even when confronted with her behavior, she would not say anything. Then she was told that the Bishop had removed her from the council. Another council member wanted to tell the congregation that she quit. The assistant to the Bishop said, "No, she was removed from the council. If she wanted to quit, she had plenty of opportunity." When she came to the meeting, I asked if she would come into my meeting so we could talk, and she would not. If finally took the Assistant to the Bishop almost lifting her up to make her go to the office. When she found out she was not going to get the "quit" out, she walked out of my office and out of the church. She sent through the other council member that she had also quit the congregation. I am sure in her mind I did all the wrong things and that I should not have called her or her friends on their behavior.
We finally got the meeting going. We talked about what we did well and what we needed help with. The favorite thing was the "Family Atmosphere" but their least favorite thing is the decreasing/aging population. So if we don't want new people, how are we supposed to grow?
The big thing is that we have enough money to keep the doors open for about 30 days. We shall see.
The Assistant had mentioned something about training me for interim ministry. This might be a good thing. I think I could do it. It is one thing going into a troubled congregation knowing there is trouble and knowing you are going to be there for a limited amount of time. When you come in expecting to stay for a while, there is a whole different way of approaching things. The Assistant said that no matter what happens, this is not my fault and that I have done the best I could.
We shall see what happens.
And, yes, I am VERY tired.
The meeting was a whole lot of fun. The one council member who decided to dog me when I was gone decided to come to the meeting. But this was only because another council member asked her. She would not respond to any of my notes, calls, or e-mails. Even when confronted with her behavior, she would not say anything. Then she was told that the Bishop had removed her from the council. Another council member wanted to tell the congregation that she quit. The assistant to the Bishop said, "No, she was removed from the council. If she wanted to quit, she had plenty of opportunity." When she came to the meeting, I asked if she would come into my meeting so we could talk, and she would not. If finally took the Assistant to the Bishop almost lifting her up to make her go to the office. When she found out she was not going to get the "quit" out, she walked out of my office and out of the church. She sent through the other council member that she had also quit the congregation. I am sure in her mind I did all the wrong things and that I should not have called her or her friends on their behavior.
We finally got the meeting going. We talked about what we did well and what we needed help with. The favorite thing was the "Family Atmosphere" but their least favorite thing is the decreasing/aging population. So if we don't want new people, how are we supposed to grow?
The big thing is that we have enough money to keep the doors open for about 30 days. We shall see.
The Assistant had mentioned something about training me for interim ministry. This might be a good thing. I think I could do it. It is one thing going into a troubled congregation knowing there is trouble and knowing you are going to be there for a limited amount of time. When you come in expecting to stay for a while, there is a whole different way of approaching things. The Assistant said that no matter what happens, this is not my fault and that I have done the best I could.
We shall see what happens.
And, yes, I am VERY tired.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
A Bit of a Rant (or something)
(A bit of the same old, same old. If you are getting tired of it (as I am) move one, there is nothing to see here.)
Well, as I said, vacation was a great thing. Unfortunately, we have to return to the real world. So I am back in the real world and I am not so happy about that.
I know that searching for "happy" does not make one happy, but is it really a bad thing to want to be happy more than one is unhappy?
I got back to the church only to hear that one of the council members, the one that has missed the Annual Meeting and the council meeting before that, and is also a friend of the Former Secretary, was in church when I was not there and was maligning me when I could not defend myself. Then, of course, she was not at the regularly scheduled council meeting.
At the meeting, we found out that we may be broke by April. So we have a member of council having a snit while the church she supposedly "loves" is going down the tubes and she can't get over things enough to come and try to save it?? I am confused.
Maybe I get in my own way, but I have to stop and think: Why does it seem that the places I get called to are in crisis? I look and see that the common denominator is me. I have to wonder if I am appropriate for this life-path. I always feel like I just want to pitch the whole thing and do something else, but when I look for what else, I can't seem to find anything.
All modesty aside, I am a bright guy. It just seems like I have painted myself into a career corner and now I cannot get out. At this time in my life, I should be nicely ensconced in a thriving church and having a wonderful time. That is all I want. I want to have a great time with my congregation reveling in the love of God. Why does it have to be so difficult.
Again, I have to wonder if every time I get into a church I get frustrated; is this what I should be doing? I can do stained glass, sort of, but not enough to make a living at it. We can not live off of Nick's earnings so I could go back to school. (Again!) But I am frustrated.
I just sit in the living room and sink deeper and deeper into despair. Am I trying to force something that I should let go? I hope I am not expecting too much from life. I mean, I only get one shot at life, why can't it be more enjoyable? Maybe I am just damaged like my father would tell me. (That probably is more what is behind this. But years of programming by my dad are not easily removed, if ever.)
I have already written one resignation letter to the congregation. Even though I am on "Happy Pills," I still get to the point where I just want to run away from all of this and do something else. It used to be hang out in the woods, now I can add "being a beach bum" to that list.
I keep thinking of the veterinarians who have to deal with animals who do not understand that the treatment is meant to help the animal. The vet keeps working and loving the animal even though the animal is trying to bite. I wish I could be that magnanimous. I am tired of being bitten.
I read in a joke psychology journal an article about "Thanatos Therapy." This is where you, the therapist, get so tired of hearing the patient whine about their life that you agree that life is not worth living just so the patient offs themselves. I don't know if it is me that wants to off myself, or if I want my congregation to off itself so that I can move onto something that could be better.
Well, as I said, vacation was a great thing. Unfortunately, we have to return to the real world. So I am back in the real world and I am not so happy about that.
I know that searching for "happy" does not make one happy, but is it really a bad thing to want to be happy more than one is unhappy?
I got back to the church only to hear that one of the council members, the one that has missed the Annual Meeting and the council meeting before that, and is also a friend of the Former Secretary, was in church when I was not there and was maligning me when I could not defend myself. Then, of course, she was not at the regularly scheduled council meeting.
At the meeting, we found out that we may be broke by April. So we have a member of council having a snit while the church she supposedly "loves" is going down the tubes and she can't get over things enough to come and try to save it?? I am confused.
Maybe I get in my own way, but I have to stop and think: Why does it seem that the places I get called to are in crisis? I look and see that the common denominator is me. I have to wonder if I am appropriate for this life-path. I always feel like I just want to pitch the whole thing and do something else, but when I look for what else, I can't seem to find anything.
All modesty aside, I am a bright guy. It just seems like I have painted myself into a career corner and now I cannot get out. At this time in my life, I should be nicely ensconced in a thriving church and having a wonderful time. That is all I want. I want to have a great time with my congregation reveling in the love of God. Why does it have to be so difficult.
Again, I have to wonder if every time I get into a church I get frustrated; is this what I should be doing? I can do stained glass, sort of, but not enough to make a living at it. We can not live off of Nick's earnings so I could go back to school. (Again!) But I am frustrated.
I just sit in the living room and sink deeper and deeper into despair. Am I trying to force something that I should let go? I hope I am not expecting too much from life. I mean, I only get one shot at life, why can't it be more enjoyable? Maybe I am just damaged like my father would tell me. (That probably is more what is behind this. But years of programming by my dad are not easily removed, if ever.)
I have already written one resignation letter to the congregation. Even though I am on "Happy Pills," I still get to the point where I just want to run away from all of this and do something else. It used to be hang out in the woods, now I can add "being a beach bum" to that list.
I keep thinking of the veterinarians who have to deal with animals who do not understand that the treatment is meant to help the animal. The vet keeps working and loving the animal even though the animal is trying to bite. I wish I could be that magnanimous. I am tired of being bitten.
I read in a joke psychology journal an article about "Thanatos Therapy." This is where you, the therapist, get so tired of hearing the patient whine about their life that you agree that life is not worth living just so the patient offs themselves. I don't know if it is me that wants to off myself, or if I want my congregation to off itself so that I can move onto something that could be better.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Thoughts on Congregational Life
I know it probably seems like I court adversity. Maybe I do need to have crises to feel alive, but I don't think so. But with that being said, my congregation is facing another crisis and this could be fatal.
What I find so difficult is we have become a congregation of stagnation. The youngest adult in the congregation is over 40. We have four children who attend. And the modal age must be somewhere in the 60's. The congregation had been very active, but through things such as alcoholic priests, power struggles, and just following the path of least resistance, it has become tired and complacent.
It has lived off of money it had invested after selling the parsonage some years ago. Now with the decline in the economy and the fixed income status of the members, that investment has been taking a harder and harder hit. We are now hitting the account at the rate of $2000 per month just to pay our bills. At this rate, we have about six months left.
I want to believe that God can work miracles, God brought forth the nation of Isreal through Abraham and Sarah, but when I look at the "Sea of Gray" in the congregation, I feel frustrated. How can we be a thriving vibrant congregation when most of our people are not willing to drive at night and are ready to have "the younger people do it"? The "younger people" are getting burnt-out and there was no concerted effort to evangelize. Also, many people have left because of tension and strife in the congregation.
Change has started to happen, some of the "poison people" have moved on, but I think it might be too little too late. The poison has started to dissipate. But we need to make some big changes, fast! I would like to say I am optimistic, but I would be lying. I feel guilty that I cannot authentically say the congregation is going to live.
And with all the crap that happened earlier this year, I cannot say that I would be sad to be moving on to another location.
What I find so difficult is we have become a congregation of stagnation. The youngest adult in the congregation is over 40. We have four children who attend. And the modal age must be somewhere in the 60's. The congregation had been very active, but through things such as alcoholic priests, power struggles, and just following the path of least resistance, it has become tired and complacent.
It has lived off of money it had invested after selling the parsonage some years ago. Now with the decline in the economy and the fixed income status of the members, that investment has been taking a harder and harder hit. We are now hitting the account at the rate of $2000 per month just to pay our bills. At this rate, we have about six months left.
I want to believe that God can work miracles, God brought forth the nation of Isreal through Abraham and Sarah, but when I look at the "Sea of Gray" in the congregation, I feel frustrated. How can we be a thriving vibrant congregation when most of our people are not willing to drive at night and are ready to have "the younger people do it"? The "younger people" are getting burnt-out and there was no concerted effort to evangelize. Also, many people have left because of tension and strife in the congregation.
Change has started to happen, some of the "poison people" have moved on, but I think it might be too little too late. The poison has started to dissipate. But we need to make some big changes, fast! I would like to say I am optimistic, but I would be lying. I feel guilty that I cannot authentically say the congregation is going to live.
And with all the crap that happened earlier this year, I cannot say that I would be sad to be moving on to another location.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Another Sleepless Night
The usual response will be: Just deal with it. I know I should, but I hate how this thing is just floating out there. No kind of closure. And although this may sound melodramatic I feel like I am walking in a field of landmines. I am not sure what will set off the next one. Quite frankly, I hate it.
I see no way of this ending in a win-win situation. The family involved has made no attempt to show any remorse at their behavior. In fact, they have been trying to defend it and say that I am the bad one in the situation. I am not going to change practices just because one person does not like it. I have gotten positive feedback about what has been happening and if one person does not like it, well, I guess that is too bad. What I hate is this tip-toeing around trying to figure out what is happening.
I don't foresee is woman and her daughter ever seeing me as the leader. As such, all she will do is bring anxiety into a system that is anxious enough. And if it comes down to then having a problem with me, well, there are always other churches. That sounds harsh, but we cannot survive if everyone wants to be leader.
I am getting really sick of not sleeping. And I know I should "Let Go and Let God." Maybe I am just not build for this calling. I see macaroni and glue sculptures in my future. When you come to visit, just don't bring anything sharp.
I see no way of this ending in a win-win situation. The family involved has made no attempt to show any remorse at their behavior. In fact, they have been trying to defend it and say that I am the bad one in the situation. I am not going to change practices just because one person does not like it. I have gotten positive feedback about what has been happening and if one person does not like it, well, I guess that is too bad. What I hate is this tip-toeing around trying to figure out what is happening.
I don't foresee is woman and her daughter ever seeing me as the leader. As such, all she will do is bring anxiety into a system that is anxious enough. And if it comes down to then having a problem with me, well, there are always other churches. That sounds harsh, but we cannot survive if everyone wants to be leader.
I am getting really sick of not sleeping. And I know I should "Let Go and Let God." Maybe I am just not build for this calling. I see macaroni and glue sculptures in my future. When you come to visit, just don't bring anything sharp.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
A Great Way To Start Pride...
Nick and I came back from camping over the Memorial Day weekend and I noticed someone had changed the sign in front of the church. This was nothing big, someone had just changed the sign from "Spread the Message" to "Sunday Worship 9:30."
When we got home, there was a message on the phone, it said that the sign had been vandalized and that the message had since been fixed. I did not know what was placed there, but I was more than a bit apprehensive.
I got a message this morning telling me what was on the sign: One side said, "Eat me gay service 9:30" and the other said, "Spread the ass." I am suspecting that it is some kids acting like idiots. I really don't think it was aimed specifically at me.
It does hurt though.
People ask why we need Pride now days. THIS IS WHY! When someone can sue for libel just because someone calls them gay (think George Rekers) is insulting to those of us who are gay. When what you are can be considered libel, it does not help to increase one's self-esteem. When something that is a defining aspect of your life is used as an attack, it points out that there is need for change in our world.
I also feel sad for a world that finds homosexuality something that is so scary. If this was done by kids, then it should be telling that they find the thought of being gay as something that is detestable.
And since when has defacing something associated with the church been OK?
When we got home, there was a message on the phone, it said that the sign had been vandalized and that the message had since been fixed. I did not know what was placed there, but I was more than a bit apprehensive.
I got a message this morning telling me what was on the sign: One side said, "Eat me gay service 9:30" and the other said, "Spread the ass." I am suspecting that it is some kids acting like idiots. I really don't think it was aimed specifically at me.
It does hurt though.
People ask why we need Pride now days. THIS IS WHY! When someone can sue for libel just because someone calls them gay (think George Rekers) is insulting to those of us who are gay. When what you are can be considered libel, it does not help to increase one's self-esteem. When something that is a defining aspect of your life is used as an attack, it points out that there is need for change in our world.
I also feel sad for a world that finds homosexuality something that is so scary. If this was done by kids, then it should be telling that they find the thought of being gay as something that is detestable.
And since when has defacing something associated with the church been OK?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Feelings on Leaving
I was just packing up stuff from my office.
I noticed as I was packing that even though I was with this congregation for over a year, I never felt like I was "part." I never felt an ownership for the congregation. Maybe "ownership" is the wrong word. But I never felt like I was their priest. I always felt like I was just a visitor.
Part of this may have been the way that I came into the situation. I just presided on Sundays for almost a year. Then I had the Archdeacon sitting in on the vestry meetings with me for about six months. All of this lead to the feeling of just being a supply preacher.
Also, having an almost full time job in addition to the church position did not leave me time to really feel like I was their priest. I was always so tired from the job that the congregation felt like an imposition. My first priority should have been for the congregation, but after working 40 hours on all kinds of shifts, the only thing I wanted to do on Sunday is sleep. And since most of my contact with the congregation is on Sunday morning, walking into the situation with disdain for them is NOT a good way to develop a warm bond with them.
I hope that this new congregation will represent a new start. I will be going into the situation as the priest. I will not have someone constantly looking over my shoulder. Hopefully I will be able to be rested enough on Sundays that I will see the congregation as my calling, not as a hindrance to my life.
I pray that I will be a blessing to the people I will be serving and I pray that there is someone out there who can shepherd the people of my current congregation to grow to their full potential. I pray that they will find someone who will view them with love and not as a stumbling block. This is my prayer and now I need to let them go and trust that God has something in store for all of us.
I noticed as I was packing that even though I was with this congregation for over a year, I never felt like I was "part." I never felt an ownership for the congregation. Maybe "ownership" is the wrong word. But I never felt like I was their priest. I always felt like I was just a visitor.
Part of this may have been the way that I came into the situation. I just presided on Sundays for almost a year. Then I had the Archdeacon sitting in on the vestry meetings with me for about six months. All of this lead to the feeling of just being a supply preacher.
Also, having an almost full time job in addition to the church position did not leave me time to really feel like I was their priest. I was always so tired from the job that the congregation felt like an imposition. My first priority should have been for the congregation, but after working 40 hours on all kinds of shifts, the only thing I wanted to do on Sunday is sleep. And since most of my contact with the congregation is on Sunday morning, walking into the situation with disdain for them is NOT a good way to develop a warm bond with them.
I hope that this new congregation will represent a new start. I will be going into the situation as the priest. I will not have someone constantly looking over my shoulder. Hopefully I will be able to be rested enough on Sundays that I will see the congregation as my calling, not as a hindrance to my life.
I pray that I will be a blessing to the people I will be serving and I pray that there is someone out there who can shepherd the people of my current congregation to grow to their full potential. I pray that they will find someone who will view them with love and not as a stumbling block. This is my prayer and now I need to let them go and trust that God has something in store for all of us.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Oh What Fun
Well, over the weekend, our crew at work went from six to four. That is right! Four people to work 13 hours per day/ seven days per week. And we are never supposed to leave the place empty. So that means that we need people to cover for breaks. Oh, and did I forget to mention that NONE of our supervisors know what we do?
I have been trying to REDUCE my hours, especially with Christmas coming. But do you think that is going to happen? And we also have the Lead Barista who talks more than he works, even thought he would have you believe that the place would close down without him. My response when someone asks if the Lead is working is: "He is on the clock and in the store."
I have been trying to get out of the place, but I am usually beat by the time I get off work. But I have been checking out the deployment page and there is something that looks good upstate! It would be nice in that it would be close to Nick's congregation too! I am guardedly optimistic. And no, I am not interested in the congregation just because it is logistically optimum. They also seem like a good place for ministry. Our lease here is up in April, my contact with my current congregation is up in July. Sometimes time just flies! Seems like we just moved and that I just signed a contact. But hopefully god has some things in store for us. We really need some things to finally go right!
Peace to all..
Monday, November 16, 2009
What's a Happinin'?
I haven't wrote much of what has been happening with me over the past few weeks. I am not sure if it is because I am too busy or just tired of complaining.
I have come to the conclusion that the phrase, "Well, at least you have a job" needs to be deleted from the English language. Yes, I have a job, but no, I am not happy to be doing it. I know that I am not "above" the job, but my gifts and talents are not being tapped in this area. Making coffee is not rocket science. But by the time I am done with the job, the introverted me is exhausted.
We, at church, just finished our Craft Bazaar. I did pretty good, I made about $100. I am going to put the cash to getting some glasses. I didn't think I was over priced, but people just didn't seem to be buying. I don't think $5 for a glass mitten ornament is too much, but people were not interested. Maybe my design was not appreciated. I actually ended up giving more of them away then I sold. We had some non-members who came to our church to open a booth and I gave them a mitten to say thanks.
The Christmas trees did not sell at all. I had $7.50 on them. The buttons alone were probably worth that much. The buttons were antique. Oh well, they will either go on our tree, or they will become Christmas gifts. I like them!
I had a baptism on Sunday. It went ok, except for the fact that I had gotten the baby's name wrong in the sermon. Well, I got it right where it counted and I guess that is all that matters. (Although I don't think God cared if I misspoke or not!)
Between my church's worship service and Nick's church's service, we went to Bronner's. Man, that place was packed! But we kind of expected that.
Now I am home for the day. Nick has to work. (I still wish I could afford a vacation for us. I will have to think about how to make this happen.) I am hoping to get some applications put out for a different job today and make some things for Christmas. One thing I want to make is a "yard flag" for in front of our house. (Out of glass, of course!)
Other wise, life is what it is.
I have come to the conclusion that the phrase, "Well, at least you have a job" needs to be deleted from the English language. Yes, I have a job, but no, I am not happy to be doing it. I know that I am not "above" the job, but my gifts and talents are not being tapped in this area. Making coffee is not rocket science. But by the time I am done with the job, the introverted me is exhausted.
We, at church, just finished our Craft Bazaar. I did pretty good, I made about $100. I am going to put the cash to getting some glasses. I didn't think I was over priced, but people just didn't seem to be buying. I don't think $5 for a glass mitten ornament is too much, but people were not interested. Maybe my design was not appreciated. I actually ended up giving more of them away then I sold. We had some non-members who came to our church to open a booth and I gave them a mitten to say thanks.
The Christmas trees did not sell at all. I had $7.50 on them. The buttons alone were probably worth that much. The buttons were antique. Oh well, they will either go on our tree, or they will become Christmas gifts. I like them!
The church didn't sell, but that is ok, I wasn't expecting it to. The Bazaar was a good excuse to make it. When finances are tight, a good excuse is a life saver!
I had a baptism on Sunday. It went ok, except for the fact that I had gotten the baby's name wrong in the sermon. Well, I got it right where it counted and I guess that is all that matters. (Although I don't think God cared if I misspoke or not!)
Between my church's worship service and Nick's church's service, we went to Bronner's. Man, that place was packed! But we kind of expected that.
Now I am home for the day. Nick has to work. (I still wish I could afford a vacation for us. I will have to think about how to make this happen.) I am hoping to get some applications put out for a different job today and make some things for Christmas. One thing I want to make is a "yard flag" for in front of our house. (Out of glass, of course!)
Other wise, life is what it is.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Yes, I Hate Her.
I was all ready to go out on a major job hunt. I was about to pitch the whole church thing and decide that being a clergy being was now something that was in my past. I was all ready to tell the deacon that we needed to start working on how to move myself out of the congregation and how to get the congregation relying on themselves. I was all ready to have this happen! Well, yep, you guessed it!
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!
The deacon (actually, Archdeacon) told me that after talking with the Bishop and telling him about what has been happening with the congregation, she is going to back out of the picture and I am being allowed to fly solo. She said that I needed to get everyone out of my way and just be allowed to be. She told me she has seen immense growth in this congregation and is very excited about what is happening!
I was a bit whiny about how hard things have been going lately, but the deacon said, "God NEVER promised it was going to be easy."
I still want to find a new job, though. I need to get out of Starbucks land and get somewhere where I can work and where the job doesn't attack me as a person.
I had the day off today and was quite irresponsible! It was wonderful!
Tomorrow, I have to get a sermon done. Have to work on glass. And have to do some research on baptisms. Nick will be gone for the day and for Sunday, so I will be, to quote Lemuel, Homo Alone. Hopefully I will be able to get a lot done tomorrow.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!
The deacon (actually, Archdeacon) told me that after talking with the Bishop and telling him about what has been happening with the congregation, she is going to back out of the picture and I am being allowed to fly solo. She said that I needed to get everyone out of my way and just be allowed to be. She told me she has seen immense growth in this congregation and is very excited about what is happening!
I was a bit whiny about how hard things have been going lately, but the deacon said, "God NEVER promised it was going to be easy."
I still want to find a new job, though. I need to get out of Starbucks land and get somewhere where I can work and where the job doesn't attack me as a person.
I had the day off today and was quite irresponsible! It was wonderful!
Tomorrow, I have to get a sermon done. Have to work on glass. And have to do some research on baptisms. Nick will be gone for the day and for Sunday, so I will be, to quote Lemuel, Homo Alone. Hopefully I will be able to get a lot done tomorrow.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Life Shots
Well, life at BUX has been interesting. I have not been trying to get the Lead Barista fired, but he has been doing pretty well in getting there. If you are not up on his shenanigans, let me fill you in.
He is notorious for just roaming around the store instead of helping us. He is notorious for lying instead of just doing the work. He is also notorious for seeing how far he can push people, just to see if he can.
Well, he may have pushed too far. When I found out that I had been trained, read the training materials, and signed the training material (none of which happened!), I got very angry! I told my boss and his boss that I DO NOT appreciate having my name and data forged! I also purposely did this in the presence of another co-worker because the boss is notorious for having a "bad" memory when it suits her.
I get to work with him today. This should be interesting.
I am still excited about the decision of the ELCA Churchwide assembly. As you can guess, this has opened up a lot of possibilities. My biggest challenge is to not get too far ahead of life. There are some things that will need to happen. Part of the "problem" is that I had to leave the ELCA to join the ECUSA. Now I will have to see if there is a problem with returning. I also feel a sense of betrayal to the ECUSA. They took me in when I needed it and helped me in a desperate time. Now it seems like I am giving them a smack in the face for helping me. But I never felt like an Episcopalian, try as I might. I don't really want to spend the rest of my life in the Episcopal closet.
Nick and I are gearing up for our trip to Iowa. We are going to visit my family and to start people thinking of the concept of two guys getting married. My family is accepting of my gayness, they just are a little unsure about all the other stuff. Nick and I are ok with giving them time.
The change in the weather has started me thinking of Christmas. (How surprising is that!) I have the impetus to start working on Christmas glass. We are going to have a craft sale at church so I need to get some things done for there. I also need to get working on the Santa for this year. (People new to the blog may not know that I make my partner Nick a new stained glass Santa every year. Nick loves Santas.) It wasn't much of a summer, but now that fall seems to have poked its head, I am feeling a new sense of energy.
I have finally gotten some health insurance through work. It is going to be a bit of a financial hit, but it is necessary. I wish I could cover Nick with the insurance, too, but in Michigan, that is not possible.
Congregation is doing fine, although I think churches seem to be Nut Magnets. I guess that is a good thing because even nuts need somewhere to belong too. Problem is, in a small congregation, the nuts stand out more than they do in a fruitcakes. Trying to find the fruitcake around the nuts can be interesting.
Putting the cat down has not been as traumatic as I thought. I think we have been grieving her loss for many years. Every time she would get impacted, the question would again arise. Sometimes having her gone smacks me "upside of the head" when I see her favorite toy or think I hear her in the night. But both She and her sister were/are independent cats so not having her constantly around is not odd.
So, there is life in a nutshell. I guess life is what you make it! Around here, that would make life stained glass coffee!
(The photo at the top of the post is of some flowers we saw when we were at The Tridge last weekend.)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
It Seems To Be Pouring
I keep wondering how to make some lemonade out of this whole thing. There must be some way to frame this so that it makes sense.
While I am typing this, one kitty is sitting near me, the other is off somewhere. It is the other that is part of my angst. The other has fecal impaction and has had this problem for four years. The problem is that right now, I cannot afford to take her to the vet to have it treated. Also, this has been going on for over four years and one has to wonder how long to let it go. She requires medication twice a day and this almost always involves a "game" of hide-and-seek. It also makes it difficult to go anywhere because we need to be around to give her the "butt drugs." So I have decided that nine years has been a good long life for my kitty.
Banks are just too much fun to deal with. They remind me of a bully. They look for the first sign of weakness and then exploit it to its fullest potential. Case in point: Because an unexpected payment hit my account before a check cleared, my account went south. The first I heard about this was almost 6 days after it occurred when I got the letter. (I know, I should more closely monitor my account.) The letter said that to cover $77 in NSF, would cost nearly $300! I would have been better off going to a "Predatory Lender!" Since this time, the amount has topped $650.
This, in part, was precipitated by the practice of the church treasurer. She will not give me a check, she must mail it. And she arranges it so that the check will arrive (assuming the US Mail works the way it should) on either the 1st or the 16th of the month. If that date should fall on a weekend, well, "it sucks to be you!" (I will have to say, she did not use those words, but that was the perceived intent.) If the day should fall on Friday, I would not get the check until after work so the money would not become available in my account until almost 5 days after payday. Her comment was that in a business, when it is payday, it is payday. I told her that this is not a business, it is a church. What I can tell is she feels she is doing us a favor and how dare we ask her to do any more. I don't see how giving me the check early would be a problem. She said that I would be cashing the checks early and that is not the way business works. She also said that when you have to write six checks you write them all on the same date. (I am the only check that is needed at the chruch)
When it suites the treasurer, checks can be written earlier. In April, I received both checks for the month on the first of the month because she would be too busy with taxes around April 16th to write the check. I guess when it suites her, I can be very trustworthy.
One of the great problems of this arrangement is that the treasurer has been in church maybe twice in the year I have been here. And her mother is one of the most anxious people I know. Her mother told me to clean my office and would walk into my office and start looking for things. Her mother, working on information I am assuming came from the treasurer, has approached an organist and told me that I better talk to this organist "sooner as opposed to later." Get the treasurer pissed, and it gets played out through the mother. And mom has been part of the congregation since the "glory days." I thought vestry members were supposed to be a living part of the congregation.
The payment that hit my account was a school loan payment. My loans have been in forbearance for two years while I am under employed. Staying in the current situation does not help this situation. But trying to find a job in Michigan is nigh on to impossible.
/rant off
Time to go to my exceedingly *full sarcasm* fulfilling job of making coffee.
While I am typing this, one kitty is sitting near me, the other is off somewhere. It is the other that is part of my angst. The other has fecal impaction and has had this problem for four years. The problem is that right now, I cannot afford to take her to the vet to have it treated. Also, this has been going on for over four years and one has to wonder how long to let it go. She requires medication twice a day and this almost always involves a "game" of hide-and-seek. It also makes it difficult to go anywhere because we need to be around to give her the "butt drugs." So I have decided that nine years has been a good long life for my kitty.
Banks are just too much fun to deal with. They remind me of a bully. They look for the first sign of weakness and then exploit it to its fullest potential. Case in point: Because an unexpected payment hit my account before a check cleared, my account went south. The first I heard about this was almost 6 days after it occurred when I got the letter. (I know, I should more closely monitor my account.) The letter said that to cover $77 in NSF, would cost nearly $300! I would have been better off going to a "Predatory Lender!" Since this time, the amount has topped $650.
This, in part, was precipitated by the practice of the church treasurer. She will not give me a check, she must mail it. And she arranges it so that the check will arrive (assuming the US Mail works the way it should) on either the 1st or the 16th of the month. If that date should fall on a weekend, well, "it sucks to be you!" (I will have to say, she did not use those words, but that was the perceived intent.) If the day should fall on Friday, I would not get the check until after work so the money would not become available in my account until almost 5 days after payday. Her comment was that in a business, when it is payday, it is payday. I told her that this is not a business, it is a church. What I can tell is she feels she is doing us a favor and how dare we ask her to do any more. I don't see how giving me the check early would be a problem. She said that I would be cashing the checks early and that is not the way business works. She also said that when you have to write six checks you write them all on the same date. (I am the only check that is needed at the chruch)
When it suites the treasurer, checks can be written earlier. In April, I received both checks for the month on the first of the month because she would be too busy with taxes around April 16th to write the check. I guess when it suites her, I can be very trustworthy.
One of the great problems of this arrangement is that the treasurer has been in church maybe twice in the year I have been here. And her mother is one of the most anxious people I know. Her mother told me to clean my office and would walk into my office and start looking for things. Her mother, working on information I am assuming came from the treasurer, has approached an organist and told me that I better talk to this organist "sooner as opposed to later." Get the treasurer pissed, and it gets played out through the mother. And mom has been part of the congregation since the "glory days." I thought vestry members were supposed to be a living part of the congregation.
The payment that hit my account was a school loan payment. My loans have been in forbearance for two years while I am under employed. Staying in the current situation does not help this situation. But trying to find a job in Michigan is nigh on to impossible.
/rant off
Time to go to my exceedingly *full sarcasm* fulfilling job of making coffee.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Gnosticism is Alive and...Well?
One of the things that drive me nuts about religion is the whole "oh so holy" thing. What I mean by this is the feeling that "things" have been imbued with God and therefore have to be treated with special reverence. Or the thought that God is kind of dumb so we have to make sure we tell God exactly what we want or God won't get it.
Example 1. I was talking to one of my parishioners. She went rushing into my office (something that pisses me off to begin with) and picked up an old palm that had fallen on the floor. She held it up and asked if it was blessed or not. I said that it was one of the palms that was to be burned for ashes for Ash Wednesday. She was appalled that it was on the floor. So she picked it up and threw it in the garbage can!
Frankly, I think throwing the thing in the garbage is worse than allowing it to remain on the floor. But then again, in my mind, it is just a palm! There is nothing mystical or magical about it. The feeling seems to be that in "blessing the palms" you are imbuing them with a special power or something. Or maybe we are trapping God in the palm.
I have always had a problem with blessing things. I believe in dedication of a thing or place, but actually BLESSING it? No, God blesses people not things. All the bowing and not letting things touch the ground? Seems like idolatry to me.
Example 2. A bunch of papers went up on the bulletin board at the church. I was not asked about this nor was I told what was supposed to happen with these sheets. I eventually was told that they were for a special recognition on memorial day. Ok, sounds good.
I had the sheets with the names brought up and prayed over the sheets. I prayed that God bless and protect those who are named. That God bless and protect all those in the selective services. That God send his peace into the world so that war is no longer necessary. And that God bless all soldiers, no matter what country. I also thanked God for the sacrifices that were made and that were currently being made by the people and their families.
BUT I DIDN'T SAY THE NAMES! People wanted to hear the names! We have to make sure God hears the names or God may forget to bless and protect the people! Oh No! God is so stupid that God does not know whom to look after.
Maybe I am wrong, but it seems odd that we have to tell God whom to bless. It seems to me that the true act of faith is to place ourselves into the care of God and allow God to work through us.
This whole thing felt like an effort to manipulate God through a certain series of actions.
Gnosticism is an effort to manipulate God through secret knowledge and through secret acts. Each of these things seem like an effort to manipulate God. I don't think God cares if the palm was blessed or not. I don't think God cares if the palm is on the floor or not. I don't think God even cares if the palm makes it all the way to the landfill. I don't think God will NOT bless the people just because their name was not read.
Ok, end of rant.
Example 1. I was talking to one of my parishioners. She went rushing into my office (something that pisses me off to begin with) and picked up an old palm that had fallen on the floor. She held it up and asked if it was blessed or not. I said that it was one of the palms that was to be burned for ashes for Ash Wednesday. She was appalled that it was on the floor. So she picked it up and threw it in the garbage can!
Frankly, I think throwing the thing in the garbage is worse than allowing it to remain on the floor. But then again, in my mind, it is just a palm! There is nothing mystical or magical about it. The feeling seems to be that in "blessing the palms" you are imbuing them with a special power or something. Or maybe we are trapping God in the palm.
I have always had a problem with blessing things. I believe in dedication of a thing or place, but actually BLESSING it? No, God blesses people not things. All the bowing and not letting things touch the ground? Seems like idolatry to me.
Example 2. A bunch of papers went up on the bulletin board at the church. I was not asked about this nor was I told what was supposed to happen with these sheets. I eventually was told that they were for a special recognition on memorial day. Ok, sounds good.
I had the sheets with the names brought up and prayed over the sheets. I prayed that God bless and protect those who are named. That God bless and protect all those in the selective services. That God send his peace into the world so that war is no longer necessary. And that God bless all soldiers, no matter what country. I also thanked God for the sacrifices that were made and that were currently being made by the people and their families.
BUT I DIDN'T SAY THE NAMES! People wanted to hear the names! We have to make sure God hears the names or God may forget to bless and protect the people! Oh No! God is so stupid that God does not know whom to look after.
Maybe I am wrong, but it seems odd that we have to tell God whom to bless. It seems to me that the true act of faith is to place ourselves into the care of God and allow God to work through us.
This whole thing felt like an effort to manipulate God through a certain series of actions.
Gnosticism is an effort to manipulate God through secret knowledge and through secret acts. Each of these things seem like an effort to manipulate God. I don't think God cares if the palm was blessed or not. I don't think God cares if the palm is on the floor or not. I don't think God even cares if the palm makes it all the way to the landfill. I don't think God will NOT bless the people just because their name was not read.
Ok, end of rant.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
It's Snowing Again
Yesterday I woke up to over six inches of snow. Quite the change from the warmer weather we had been experiencing over the past couple of days. I kind of like days like this because you know that it is not going to stick around for long. It is snowing again this morning, light little flurries.
I am sniffling, sneezing, coughing, and my throat hurts. I took yesterday off and did absolutely nothing. I don't feel much better today, but we cannot afford to have me take another day off. So I am going in at 3 pm today, drugged to the gills. I hope it goes ok.
I do have the Good Friday sermon finished. I need to start working on the Sunday sermon. I cannot reuse one of my past ones because they don't just work. I like some of my past Easter sermons, but I do need to write one for this Sunday. I will have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off this week so that will be good.
Nick has to do services on Thursday also. I managed to dodge that one.
I feel like I got the whole Holy Week thing backward. Usually you go through the whole thing and then get sick. This year I guess I decided to get sick first!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Weekend Recap
Well, another weekend is drawing to a close. From my point of view, it has been ok. I have had the opportunity to get some more work done on the stained glass. The picture is the clock I am going to give to Nick's sister and BIL for helping us move. They have been so very helpful. I just might make one for us! (Heavens knows we need more more stained glass around here!)Nick's Santa is coming along and I hope to have it done by Christmas Eve.
There are a few presents that I could make but it is not pressing.
Preaching went well. Things are going well at the church also. I am pleased to be doing church stuff again.
The only downer is that I heard that my mom is in the hospital with diverticulitis. She had this about ten years ago and they had to do surgery to correct it. Hopefully she will not need surgery this time. My dad is feeling quite lost without her. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. My dad too!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The Last Couple of Days
Well, the last few days have been interesting.
Thursday started off with getting up at 4:15 am after working until 7:30 the night before. Then I left my cup of coffee back at home. Then I realized that I had put on my underwear backwards while trying to get dressed in the dark. At work, things were ok except for the fact that we had the "Splenda Thief" stop by. This is a woman who does a "Drive-By" Splenda stealing. She will look around then run up to our stock of Splenda and grab all of them and shove them into her pockes and then rush off. I was told about her from my coworkers, but this was my first encounter with her. Kind of sad really, she does not appear to be playing with a full deck.
Friday was pretty uneventful. I got off of work at 1 pm and Nick had to be at work by 3 pm. We had burgers for lunch and then he headed off.
This morning we went out for breakfast. We went to Bob Evans because I love their biscuits. While we were eating, the waitress looked at me and asked (I don't know why) "Is this your dad?" I choked for a moment and said, "Uh, no." Then she said, "Oh you are friends." To which I said, "Yes." (I also had my Michigan Pride shirt on.) She came back later and apologized, saying, "I realized that you are not as young as you initially looked, it must be the hair cut." To which Nick said to me, "What a compliment, you look old!" The waitress came back and again, trying to make things better, told me how old I look. After she left, I looked at Nick and said, "Sometimes we should just pretend something didn't happen."
We both got a laugh out of it.
Nick had to go to work and I had a meeting with the Deacon who has been also working with my congregation. It was a great meeting! She told me that she has noticed a positive change in the congregation, a "Breath of fresh air." She said that she has noticed the congregation has been coming back to life and that I appear to be just what they needed.
She also said that the Bishop has been impressed with the changes that have been occurring.
I guess I will stay at the Bucks and look forward to a time when I can get a congregation full time.
Speaking of Bucks, I get to work with the Immature 16 year-old on Monday. We will see if there has been any changes. I sure hope so.
My schedule for this weeks sucks. Three closes followed by two openers. 37 hours after I said that I really didn't want many over 20. Oh well, that is what happens when one of your coworkers quits.
Hope you all are having a great evening. Enjoy life. And realize, it could be worse, you could have your underwear on backwards.
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