Cultivate fresh starts

March 17,  2020

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, in fact almost 1 year! I admit chasing a 14 month old and being 7.75 months pregnant is a lot. That said, I am grateful for this season (of having a young child and anticipating our last baby) and do not take it for granted. Motherhood is a privilege and (for me) long awaited. Being mommy and working full-time means blogging and finding time to do “my” projects are slim for a season. And that’s ok. It’s a season and I’m grateful. 

In light of COVID-19 and all this new pastoral territory it seems weird to create a somewhat “normal” blog post and not talk about COVID-19. I think I’m just going to have to say this is all such new territory and I am figuring out the best practices for pastoring and leading in the midst of this. I’m not sure I have enough distance to espouse wisdom about these times. I’m simply drawn to the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:38-39. Even social distancing and not getting to worship physically together. I pray we find creative ways to maintain community and continue to take care of those more vulnerable than us.  

In the spirit of community and sharing news....We have blog-worthy news in the Cook house; we’re moving at the end of June!! After maternity leave, I will be serving Cayce United Methodist Church. I’m so excited. Depending on when baby Leonard McCoy Cook aka Bones makes his arrival, I will start at Cayce UMC 8 weeks after his birth. Our due date is around May 20th, but his older brother Jimmy T was 2 weeks late so... we shall see, maybe mid-July. You cannot control babies! Isn’t that a life lesson, motherhood, for me, has been often realizing I’m not really in charge. More broadly, much of my faith journey has been a reminder that “Hey, Meg, you’re not in charge: God is.”  (A fitting reminder in these times too!) Ironically, or perhaps predictably, it has been the same in appointment season. There is a trite, but true, sentiment that when we ask God for something we don’t always get it, sometimes we get something even better. I feel like this is the case with the appointment to Cayce UMC. Myself and John are very excited about the opportunity for me to serve as the pastor at Cayce UMC. From everything I have heard Cayce is a great, healthy church and I know some of you from my time at Epworth! I’m thrilled to get to be a part of a strong team and ministry. John’s thrilled to be back in Cola, he’ll be able to ride his bike to campus again (he really enjoyed that when I served at Epworth Children’s Home). John teaches Physics at USC. Our eldest, James Tiberius, aka Jimmy T or Captain, is too little to know much (he is only 14 months old) but I’m excited that Cayce will probably be the first church home he really will remember.  And bless him, he will get so many life changes all at once: a baby brother and then moving. My Winnsboro people, please do not be sad. First UMC Winnsboro has been good to Jimmy T and I will remind him of his first church and where he was baptized. 

So, First UMC Winnsboro, as our time winds down in Winnsboro don’t count me out, we still have a few more ministry opportunities before maternity leave and moving. I have some fun things planned for worship online and when we come back to physically meeting together in the next 9 or so weeks and I know you are looking forward to having Rev. Mac Kinnett with you for maternity/transition leave and as you prepare to welcome your new preacher Rev. Steve Elkins. May this be a healthy season for the church and one of smooth transitions. 

Cayce friends, we cannot wait to meet you and, after maternity leave, get to work! 

Pastor Meg (And John, Jimmy T and baby Bones)