Happy Rail Bike Excursion

Katherine and I went on a rail bike excursion last weekend

here we are smiling

it was a gorgeous day

chilly clear perfect

electric motors meant we only pedaled

when we wanted

our speed between 7 and 25 mph

on an old old railway line

two hours of bliss

hour out and hour back

with picnic in between.

This was in Anderson, NC

near Murphy

a four-hour drive on mountain roads

autumn leaves bright and beautiful

listening to Kat's favorite

Taylor Swift

her new album.

It was just overnight

breakfast at some bougie place

Katherine found on Tik Tok

food and coffee were great

the whole day perfect.

Thank you God

for this daughter.

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

preached in a way I find engaging.

It was so worth the drive

even an hour even in the rain

so blessed to see such

goodness knowledge call carried forward.

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.

 

I don’t know the answer

nor why my heart hurts for them.

As we were 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.

Finding my Place?

 

I visited Pittsboro UMC Sunday for the late service

five minutes from my home.

 

Lovely worship space

excellent music fantastic choir

congregation not overly friendly

but not unfriendly either

my presence seems to surprise pastors

he was friendlier on my way out the door.

Monday I received email from him

it was a joy having you in worship yesterday etc

this was first welcome note I have received

after sending hundreds of them myself

I emailed in reply I’ve been visiting churches

was invited to PUMC by neighbors

loved the worship service

not familiar with this district 

want to sing in choir at church near home 

which limits my choices.

 

Within a few minutes a return email

with contact info for choir director

we’d love to have you in our choir

I emailed director: can visitor join choir?

“Dear Pastor Cheryl” came reply – yes indeed

first fall practice is tomorrow at 7.

 

Next day I received church coffee mug

filled with chocolate kisses

and note: welcome!

also email from office administrator: welcome!

 

I think you’re being pursued Keith said

this is what is supposed to happen I replied

coffee mug was a nice touch.

 

Choir practice was superb also nostalgic

I haven’t been part of a well-led choir

with people who laugh joke enjoy each other

since I was a student at Pleasant Green

I so loved the choir there

my voice is worn out from years of preaching

no one seemed to notice.

 

Welcome Pastor Cheryl!

please I am retired 

I'm really a recovering pastor

they all laughed

just Cheryl will be fine

they were friendly welcoming.

 

So I will sing at 9 and 11 on Sunday

probably return to Sunday school between

perhaps I have found my place.