Smooth Transition

 

My last Sunday in Massey's pulpit was Pentecost 2025

For the feverish work I am doing

you would not know I am officially retired

new pastor needs access to website software

facebook can go down the toilet as far as I care

also files and files

directory membership informational financial

at least the audit is done.

 

This is the last Saturday I will email a worship order

to a congregation who likes not having a printed one

retired elder filling in has put back everything plus some

I eliminated to shorten worship service during Covid and beyond

so Sunday’s service will go longer than an hour

just like the one before

when different retired elder officiated

plus they think they don’t need a mic when they do

I get email complaints of

we couldn’t hear!

the worship service went too long!

not my problem not anymore.

 

I’m doing everything I can for smooth transition

maybe three Sundays was too much.

Drive time between churches is 45 minutes

I’m guessing she won’t arrive on time

she guesses the same

you can do a hymn-sing if you’re not here yet I said

because how can she rush out of first church

without chatting at all?

 

It won’t be so easy to go from one church of 30 people

to two churches with 90 people

when it was the 30 people who were full time

and love you too much to lose you

the 60 people who were part time

and loved their own pastor

everyone is frightened

30 people probably still expect full time pastor

and chatting after worship

they will have the harder time.

 

God will be a part of it all

but will everyone perceive that?

Family Scrapbook, first half of 2025

 

Mom and Katherine at restaurant in Wilmington, spring 2025

Eric and Michelle play in the snow, early 2025

Michelle, Eric, Rachel, Zach, spring 2025

Sunset from our Pittsboro home, early spring 2025

Photo just discovered: 

my grandmother, Clara Mae Bastian Morrow,

with my mother, Jean Marie Morrow (Moffett), 

probably late 1930s

Katherine & Jonathan in Colorado, June 2025

Keith and Penny; spring 2025

I love the photo, but it's not mine; the Milky Way in Australia

One final beautiful picture, also not mine

Light at the End of the Tunnel

 

Last night a rainbow arched across the sky

daylilies are blooming

it’s been cool these last days of May

been playing pickleball outside

dismantled home office

turned it into a game/puzzle room

with round oak table.

 

Wrote my next-to-last sermon

for Ascension Sunday

using Ephesians text

on lessons learned in ordained ministry

I’ve lined up a three-Sunday pastoral transition

done several memorial services

at our new columbarium

no more deaths please.

 

Our third member this year turned 90 last Sunday

church threw her surprise birthday party

she said we need to have a garden workday

how can you say you’re too old

when the 90-year-old is organizing?

 

A few Sundays ago someone lifted up as joy

her multi-cultural pew

had several African Americans

an Indian and Chinese lady sitting on it

next Sunday several people crowed to me

how multi-cultural we are

I said (lightly) one pew is wonderful

how will you feel when it’s ten pews

or fifteen because rest assured

it will be the work of the Holy Spirit

they looked uncomfortable.

 

Get through this Sunday and next

they’ve got a party planned

people have been slipping me details

Don’t tell anyone that I told you!

The Secrecy that Didn't Work

 

I think I look tired

What a joke although not funny

phone call Friday from DS

I’m emailing you script to read Sunday

no livestream

I’m emailing different script for SPRC chair to read out loud

at end of worship

announcing who Massey’s new pastor will be

who is it? I asked

I cannot tell you she replied

well what church is Massey’s being paired with? I asked

I cannot tell you she said

is it in Durham!? I cannot tell you

you will find out Sunday when chair reads her script.

 

That’s what you think I didn’t say.

 

Later that day surprise

 here came email to me from district office

containing the chair’s script!

Oops!

 

So that’s the new pastor!

I looked her up

what? rural church 45 minutes away?

never would have guessed

if she can manage the driving

she will do well at Massey’s

I watched her Easter livestream

there’s an accent but not hard to understand

a sweet lilting African accent

reminds me of Shepherd’s House.

 

Sunday: chair read long boring script

which said I was moving (not retiring)

which she corrected 

blah blah blah

new pastor is who?

script gave her name only

not her church

did not say she was ordained

married with children

or from the Congo

I did not read my script

but came out of the pulpit

said it all!

answered questions

reassured congregation

you will love this pastor!

her own church loves her

(and it's rural and white I didn't say)

church doesn’t want to lose her

she’s young (compared to us) energetic

everyone exited smiling

it’s going to be okay.

 

The DS thinks we are both morons

chair told me afterwards

no she’s dogpaddling in the deep end

she’ll be a good DS in a few years I replied

or maybe she does think I’m a moron

because I have a part-time appointment

what? chair said

oh never mind

I try to care what God thinks.

Last Easter at Massey's

 

The service was really nice today

you were great my husband said

after church on Easter unusual for him

there wasn’t a seat left in the sanctuary

nor in the parking lot according to the usher

who directed traffic.

 

Suzanne’s playing was spectacular I said

so lovely to have a musician who works well with you

it’s a shame Keith said

you are leaving when you are at the top of your game

not really I laughed

remember the tennis players who wait too long

they just become pathetic.

 

It’s true I love to lead worship preach

will miss that for sure

but much of the rest I no longer enjoy

some of it I loathe

cannot stand the thought of another charge conference

or someone expecting me to fix some church problem

as you know I’m having trouble holding my words

not just what I say but how I say it

I reach a point with churches

when I begin to wonder if there is anything

I have done or said

that has made any difference

then it’s time to leave.

 

This time I can leave for good.