Today is May 31st, John and I have been married 4 years. We, like crazy young people, got married the day before Annual Conference four years ago and you guessed it, spent our honeymoon in Florence,SC at Annual Conference. Romantic, right? (We knew nothing!) I stood up in the pastor’s meeting Sunday night and corrected the Bishop (oh my!) to tell him my new married name. I was commissioned that year as a provisional Elder in the SC conference of the United Methodist Church and 3 weeks after Annual Conference we moved to Epworth....what a whirlwind.
Now, we’re in the midst of what feel like another happy whirlwind. John is coordinating with the movers, packing all the things, talking to Donnie (chair of trustees) about the mold situation (so grateful, we know mold remediation is a process and expensive...thank you), he’s supervising the plumber at the Epworth parsonage (yes we’re still having some plumbing inconviences) and preparing us for another trip to Annual Conference- preparation that is more than packing clothes but also meal planning/food since we don’t often risk eating out with my allergies and it’s cheaper. Go John, go! He’s also starting to prepare for summer session 2 at USC when he’ll resume teaching. He starts the Monday of moving week. I’m coordinating Epworth’s Salkehatchie team (7 teens, 2 staff and me), researching for the projects at my site (I’m a site leader this year), planning for Graduate Sunday, Homecoming Sunday, my last Sunday and looking ahead to Vacation Bible School at Winnsboro (Rolling River Rampage, July 29-August 1, 6:00pm-8:00pm). And yes, I’m packing too. I guess it’s good to be busy!
By the way, it looks like we will move into the Winnsboro parsonage some time the week of July 3-6. This is a little later than usual (UMC pastors in SC will all move on June 27th) but this is because the mold is being remediated. Thank you. We’re also blessed that Rev. Holler, Epworth president, is allowing John and I to stay in the Epworth parsonage an extra week. This saves a great deal of moving stress and expenses since we will not need to store our things, stay in a hotel or need to figure out living without a kitchen. God is so good, this remediation (admittedly something that doesn’t feel positive) gives us extra time. In all things God works for good! Time to set up the office and a little bit of recovery time after Salkehatchie (June 16-23). Rather than moving the week after Salk we get a little rest before the big move to Winnsboro. But don’t worry it won’t be all rest! I will commute to Winnsboro the first week of July from Epworth.
Speaking of busy, in June I will start a short term transition clergy coaching training to help me start on my very best foot at FUMC Winnsboro. Transitioning from Epworth Children’s Home to a traditional church is a pretty big pastoral shift. Epworth has been a natural extension of my previous 15 years of Christian Educator experience, ECH is a much different setting than a traditional church. I want to “get it right” as I move to a broader arena of ministry at Winnsboro. This is one idea that came out of the pastoral transition retreat which I got to attend with Lea Weed last week. I’ve also been working on my sermon and plans for Sunday, July 1; day 1 at FUMC Winnsboro. We’re down to 4 Sundays...wow!
FUMC, I look forward to WINNing with you! #theCooksWinn
Pastor Meg
*want to know more about my allergies, check out my “Cultivate Introductions” post.
No comments:
Post a Comment