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.

Last Night's Meeting

The meeting went very well! The congregation has been through some tough times, but now seems ready to heal. I think it will be a good thing.

I am beginning to think that my ministry in life is going to be going into congregations and loving them back to health. I seem to have been in congregations that have had some "difficulties." I hope I am able to have learned something at each of the places and will be able to bring that learning to the new places that I serve.

Tiring Day

Well, I told my congregation today that I would be leaving.  I am excited about all that is going on, but I am also sad to be leaving.  I really do care about these people and feel, in a way, that I am abandoning them.  I know that I have to believe that God is in this whole thing and that God will be there for the congregation too.

We actually had a good talk the congregation was able to see how they have grown and how they are more able to be "Church" now.  I am happy that they were able to see that hey have grown and that they are able to see this not as a defeat, but as a challenge.

I had to have someone else read the part that said that I was leaving because I started crying like a schoolgirl.  This is such a combination of joys and sorrows.  AND AM I TIRED!

Well, I will be meeting with the new congregation this week and hopefully that will answer a few things.

Nick and I were looking for apartments.  We wanted to find a house because all the stained glass stuff takes a lot of room.  We found an apartment with a "bonus room" that could be usable.  I hate looking for apartments.

Now I am just chilling and getting my thoughts together.  I have to send stuff to the bishop's office but that can wait until tomorrow.