Jeff and I spent our first day at Pioneer Memorial doing all those normal pastoral tasks: moving the Advent/Christmas decorations out of storage, chatting with folks who were dropping off their kids at the preschool, figuring out the computer system (Jeff was right at home!), choosing hymns for the next couple of Sundays, scheduling lunches with two neighboring pastors who called to welcome us to the area, going through mail that had already stacked up, and unpacking a couple of boxes so we wouldn’t get out of practice. No wonder I’m tired tonight!
Katie is doing great and discovered last night that the Tooth Fairy knows how to find her in Solon, Ohio! This was tooth number three and number four won’t be far behind. She is loving school, can’t wait to go to her new church, and already has all sorts of new friends (what a surprise). We are so grateful for our flexible and easy-going daughter!
Thanks to those of you who have dropped us notes, called us and sent us emails. As transitions go, we’re doing pretty darn good!
It’s now official — we’re members of the Presbytery of the Western Reserve.
Thirty members of the Pioneer Church came to the Presbytery meeting this evening to express their enthusiasm and support during the examination/welcoming portion of the meeting. Both of us were asked the “welcoming question” by the chair of the Committee on Ministry: “Please tell us about an event from your ministry or life that will help us to get to know you.”
Kerri told of her college degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies that prepared her to be a cruise director. While it wasn’t a “seminary-preparatory” degree, it has come to represent a significant aspect of her ministry — taking people on journeys on which their faith is strengthened, they are challenged to new expressions of discipleship, and they experience authentic community. From spending the night with a group of middle school youth in a Tennessee cave to experience the power of the light of Christ, to leading adult mission trips in rural Honduras, she has worked to “create spaces” where people can experience and grow in their faith.
I told of my favorite healing passage in the Bible — in which friends carry a paralytic to see Jesus but are prevented by the crowds, but not to be thwarted climb on the roof and lower the friend to Jesus through a hole they have dug. I am used to being one of the friends carrying the mat — from my time serving people living with HIV/AIDS to various congregational ministries. I’ve become good at carrying others to places of healing. But it was my experience of being “on the mat” and carried by my friends and faith community during my 3 1/2 year ordeal with meningitis that was truly transforming for me — experiencing what it is to be a “wounded healer.”
The presbytery was given the chance to ask questions of either of us, but instead several people spoke to welcome us to the presbytery.
We left the sanctuary for the presbytery to vote. A minute or so later we were brought back in to the applause of the crowd, most enthusiastically by our new congregation as the members of Pioneer were on their feet to welcome us. It was amazingly touching.
So we’ll start at the church tomorrow. It is hard to believe it’s actually happening!
A day of thanks. There is so much to be thankful for: the three P-Ds together with a new life in Solon, a new home, enduring friendships in Atlanta, new friends in Ohio, and so much more. In a word — Abundance.
It’s strange to be in a new place. We miss our friends in Atlanta and our Thanksgiving traditions there. We had ten years of the “our families don’t live here” group Turkey Day event with Anna and Jim, Dave and Debbie, Joyce, the P-Ds, and others who would join in at different times. And there was no wine tasting! <grin>
But what an amazing adventure this is. We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Snyders — a great meal and great time with new friends. One more feast of the week — we’ve had dinners provided for us every night since we’ve been here! Abundance!
We’re taking a break tonight from unpacking boxes and painting. We’ll hit it again tomorrow, but for this evening some cuddling with Kaitlin, mindless tv (Survivor!), and a deep, deep sense of gratitude — we have so much to be thankful for. Thanks be to God!
We’ve just arrived in Solon, Ohio, to begin a new chapter in our lives. Check back here regularly to catch up on our adventures, reflections, and musings.
