Blast from the Past

 Stephanie, me, Stephan at Morehead UMC

I haven't seen Stephen and Stephanie 

since I supervised Stephen 

in a field education placement

in Rougemont in 2009.

It was a good summer

I was still fairly new pastor

there were two good students

which made it fun for everyone.

Now look at us

going gray

I'm retired

he's pastor of wonderful busy church

Stephanie obviously great help to him (still) 

they have two boys the eldest 14

makes me feel old.

On Sunday I drove to Greensboro

to see him in the pulpit at Morehead UMC

It was a really good sermon and delivery

text was Ephesians

Stephen exegeted the scripture

gave personal examples

preaching I find so engaging.

It was so worth the drive

even an hour even in the rain

so blessed to see such

goodness knowledge call carried forward.

Restlessness

 

Where does the path lead? Does it matter?

Home is quiet today reading all done

chicken in crockpot

lunch with friend in an hour

there is restlessness

I know pickleball mahjong lunches will get old

what am I (still) passionate about?

No desire to be docent

volunteer at gardens (done that disliked it)

hospital volunteer (done that too)

babysit (mixed bag)

stock food pantry

march as Keith does

I sense church is still where I am led

or is it just my comfort zone?

Keith asks are you sorry you retired

my answer is no

 not even ready to volunteer as short-term interim.

Actually church isn't comfort zone anymore

have trouble remembering names

my singing voice declining

difficulty seeing words in dim sanctuary

theological lectures

not even comfortable in Sunday school.

Months ago I told other ordained Cheryl at Massey’s

I want to be for a pastor

what she has been for me: friend

someone to talk things through

someone to fill in when I was sick or gone

I knew she could do anything in church and do it well.

I can see I will not be these things where I am

but

I also need want crave well-played hymns music

it’s how I worship

oh the music at Pittsboro is sublime.

Listen to this craziness

I could worship sing at 9 a.m. main service

visit around at 11 a.m. churches

especially struggling little ones

disrespected at charge conferences

God is still here!

might be interesting. 

Or not.

Dear Jesus would you like to weigh in?

Charge Conference

 

Last night's almost-Super Moon

I attended charge conference last night

even though my feet dragged

thought I was done with these things

but

I'm a member of this one

curious about the church

there is new DS to meet

young Korean shook my hand

is this him? this fellow looks too young

I gave my name but he did not give his

I asked him you are...? yes the DS

I can’t believe we’ve never met (actually I can)

it’s nice to meet you so that much is done.

No opportunity to sneak out

I stayed the duration

worship DS sermon

horrible discernment at church tables

never seen this done

felt sorry for small churches

embarrassed shamed

by having to answer questions.

Two churches doing well

growing excited about everything

Pittsboro and The Local Church

(relatively) new church merged with Evergreen

others not so much.

I feel impotently angry for little churches

who cannot understand

why outsiders do not find them attractive

last year’s charge profile allowed churches

to name villains:

Covid shrinking population 

disaffiliations

terrible pastoral leadership

hard to blame shrinking population

in this corner of the state.

 

Here’s what I know

only one of declining churches

present last night

has functioning web site

where someone might discover

what time the church worships

that is the tip of the iceberg I’m sure

I don’t know the answer

nor why my heart hurts for them.

As we’re leaving

here came a woman from Evergreen

who remembered me

(I was there briefly with Aldersgate)

we’re doing so well she told me

I’m happy for you! happy also

it appears Local Church and you all

get to keep your (valuable) property I said

after lunching last year

with Evergreen’s former interim pastor

who told she didn’t think it would happen

make it happen I urged her

it was good to see something

that might have ended badly

end very well

praise God.

Family Album

 

 An interesting place to begin

the black bars refuse to be trimmed off

or the photo enlarged.

This is my father, Thomas R. Moffett,

and his grandmother, Ethel Mae Welsh.

I knew her as Mamaw.

Married at 15 a mother at 16

of my grandfather.

Mamaw died when I was 13

so I remember her well

she loved me the daughter of her favorite grandchild

Sometimes I dream about her.

She told me her father was a child

when the South lost the Civil War

and their family moved in a covered wagon

from Mississippi to Texas. 

I found her mother's grave on-line

Nellie Breedlove.

I can't remember if the photo above is in another of my books.

I think it was taken last Easter, 2025

in the yard at Massey's Chapel.

While I was a pastor

our son, daughter-in-law, and their children

came to church on Christmas Eve and Easter.

In the background is the church's pollinator garden.

Our son, Eric, and family:

Rachel, Michelle, and Zach

among the sunflowers

summer 2025

Here is everyone in the Escape House

on our recent (Sept. 2025) trip to Myrtle Beach.

We solved the riddle and escaped the house

with 10 minutes to spare

no thanks to me. 

Michelle, Zach, and I are holding

fake gold nuggets.

It was really a search for treasure.

This is a nice photo of Keith and me

taken some time ago (more than 5 years, less than 10)

when we were living in Durham.

As I recall, it was taken at a Christmas party.

There's really no need for this sunset photo

of a lovely gibbous moon

partly blurred by clouds

I just like it.

Song Memories: B - D

 

"B" is for beautiful sunsets at our home in Pittsboro

There are many modern adaptations of old hymns on my ipod like

Blessed Assurance 

Be Thou My Vision 

Be Still My Soul

I love them they carry profound spiritual memories of worship

but I’m blogging about ipod secular songs

bringing back memories of ministry.

 

Under “B” is pair of songs by Simon and Garfunkle

lots of spiritual references in their music

in particular “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

also “The Boxer” spoke to me during difficult years

my favorite verse of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is last

always filled me with hope

Sail on silvergirl sail on by

your time has come to shine

all your dreams are on their way

see how they shine

If you need a friend I'm sailing right behind

like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind

like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind.

 

I also identified with tougher verse 5 from “The Boxer”

with changed gender language:

In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by her trade

she carries the reminders of every glove that laid her down

or cut her til she cried out in her anger and her shame

“I am leaving I am leaving”

but the fighter still remains.

Best Christmas Eve sermon I preached

was “Candle in the Window”

using lyrics of “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon

I was pastor of Union Grove UMC in Bahama

known for having electric candles in its windows all night

some people said they visited the church because of the candles

I talked about what candles in church window might represent

do represent.

Even as I wander I'm keeping you in sight

you're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night.

 

First heard in Divinity School the idea that God invites us to dance

resonated with me especially early in pastoral ministry

God led me in dances that were way over my head

learning the steps was difficult

“Dance with Me” by the Doobie Brothers

captures the joy playfulness God uses in invitations to dance.

Dance with me I want to be your partner can't you see?

the music is just starting

night is falling and I am calling

dance with me.

Still dancing Lord.