Pastoral Reflections

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55: 8-9, NIV

I attribute the anxiousness to spring fever. The warmer weather and sunnier days seem to be rejuvenating everyone after the cold and dreariness of winter. With construction nearing completion, people are getting excited. Something for which we have worked so long and hard is nearing completion. Energy is building. There is great anticipation about moving forward into new avenues of ministry, and the GOOD NEWS is WE ARE! We will be in the addition before you know it. And that is not all. At its last meeting, session approved the hiring of Robin Shear as part time Youth Coordinator. WELCOME ROBIN!! She will be working with our youth programs. Our current interim Christian Education Director, Betty Blue, will continue to work with our younger children in the areas of Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

There is much about which we should be very excited. But for some, there is frustration that the search for a senior pastor hasn’t come to completion yet. It is true. The Presbyterian search process can be much slower than in other denominations. This comes from a fundamental belief that the people have the right to be guided by God in the choice of their leadership. Leadership is not assigned or appointed from outside the congregation. The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) that was elected by the congregation has been hard at work; meeting faithfully every week. (I know because they sometimes need to use my office.) They have honed their list of candidates and are proceeding with inquiries. The ‘cone of silence’ can be aggravating, but confidentiality is of the utmost importance so that all topics of discussion can be freely explored. The committee is proceeding prayerfully and purposefully. This church has been blessed with positive long term pastorates. The PNC is keenly aware of this. A good fit of pastor and people is extremely important. It impacts the life of a congregation for years.

This is where patience and perseverance enter. This is an opportunity to grow in our faith because we know that God’s ways are not our ways; nor are God’s thoughts our thoughts. We need to trust that all will be revealed in God’s time. In the meantime, to paraphrase the apostle Paul we “rejoice in our impatience because we know that impatience challenges us in perseverance; perseverance produces character; character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” Amen!

Grace and peace,
Christine