Ordination

August 7, 2008 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Everything went as planned for my Ordination.  It was a wonderful event that I was able to share with my family, friends and new congregation.  I even made the Syracuse paper!

Since then I have been trying to catch up on things that had to get put off to make sure I had all the details done for my ordination.   Most of that is trying to get ready for the fall.  There is not much time left before September rolls around and we have lots to do.  I have committees to meet with, Sunday School to plan, visits to make and new member classes to start!

I don’t know if anyone has said that a Pastor’s job is easy – but if they did they were wrong!!

I see lots of my friends and colleagues post their sermons online.  I have done a few of those but for me — I don’t write the way I preach.  Most of my sermons are done in a way that helps me proclaim the Gospel message rather than reading my message.  I would love to get into pod-casts and to be able to post them on here.  When I had my Mac I could do it with no problem.  But now that machine is down so I need to wait.  Hopefully sometime soon I can get it up and running again.

What a week!!

August 2, 2008 in Uncategorized with 2 Comments

This week has been amazing!

My week started out pretty normally.  However there was excitement in the air.  I knew that there were two big events coming up for me.  The first was that on Tuesday I pick up the first generation iphone.  Let me say that I LOVE IT!  I had trouble setting it up.  That was my own stupid fault because I left the previous owners sim card in it.  But once I got my sim card in it I was able to activate it and start using it.  I am still trying to figure out all the bells and whistles but I love it.  The phone has almost everything I could ever want in a portable device.  I think I would love to have the 3G speed and more importantly the GPS navigation but I am very, very satisfied. (plus I am not locked in for another two years before I can upgrade to version 3 of the iphone!!!

The bigger of the events this week was my ordination last night.  I must say I am still in awe of the whole service.  To be a part of an ordination is special to be the one who is ordained is priceless.  To have the gathered church body around me in celebration of all my accomplishments and the ministry that is before me is just awesome.  I know that I am lucky where the two biggest ceremonies in my life (wedding and ordination) have gone without a hitch.  It was pure celebration and excitement.

I found out this morning that my picture along with an interview was in today’s local paper.  It is also online for those who would like to read it. I love the title of the articles.

Amidst all the craziness I have spent more time getting ready for my ordination and now I feel more free to focus my energy on getting to know the people of St. Mark’s and to expand upon my ministry here.

What has really helped you?

July 27, 2008 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

To all my pastor friends out there (or soon to be pastors or anyone else with ideas)….

What has really helped you in your ministry?  I am talking about “stuff” (ie books, home communion kits, albs or other worship stuff ect)

As someone going into a first call situation what will I need to have a successful first six months to a year?  Is there something that you wish you had when you started? Or was there something that really helped you that you are glad that you had?  Any and all advice is welcome.

 

Thanks!

iPhone

July 26, 2008 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

So the time is close approaching where I will be an iPhone owner.  After a year and a half of research, blog reading and general oooing and ahhing I have committed to a purchase of a first generation iphone.

This purchase will be a birthday/anniversary gift from my wife. I am sure Christmas is in there as well.

I would love to go to the second generation iphone or a “3G” as us experienced iphone geeks would say — However, I am not eligible until February for an “upgrade” so instead of paying the insiders price of $199.00 I would have to pay $399.00 which would be for the 8gig phone.

I found a Syracuse college student selling his first generation iphone on ebay.  I emailed him offline hoping that I would be able to convince him to sell his phone for the price of a 3G 8 gig and it worked!!!  He tried to get more money out of me, I don’t know if he realized that he could get twice that on ebay or if he wanted his money early but that did not work.

So we are meeting him on Tuesday night, I am SO excited.  I will hopefully be able to convert everything over at the mall where we are meeting him and then sit through a Christian Ed meeting until I can come home and play with my new phone. I am not sure how much sleep I will get Tuesday night.

Until then I will be downloading music onto my computer. I hopefully will be able to put a few movies on it as well.

The biggest difference I see between the first and second generation iphones is the 3G speed.  That does not matter to me too much at this point because the web browsing itself will be better from my treo 650 and the GPS. I would LOVE GPS on my phone but I have done pretty well with google maps and I will be okay with that until the next generation iphone comes out.

Well Back to downloading music……

Justice

July 24, 2008 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

The Bible talks alot about justice and how we need to live in a just world.  I am sure that there are doctoral dissertations written about the subject but how can I live this out?  How can I show compassion, grace and love while at the same time live in a just society?

This came to my mind recently after our car was broken into.  They stole my sirius satellite radio, my bluetooth headset and my wallet.  Nothing too precious that I can’t replace (but a big inconvenience on my wallet), but I was rightfully upset.  I called the Sheriffs office to report it and they came and wrote up a nice report for my insurance company and then he had me sign a paper.  I was not sure that I was prepared for this — but it was a paper saying that when caught I would like the individuals arrested for what they did.  I took a step back…..was I really prepared for this?  Did I want someone to be put into jail on my account?  Especially if I recieved the items back…..

I signed the paper because I would like to seek justice and by all accounts from what I was told it was a group of kids doing this and they would most likely recieve a slap on the wrist for their crimes.  But it started to make me think.
The ELCA is coming out with a new social statement in 2013 on criminal justice.  I have applied to be on this task force because it is something that I am interested in.  I am not sure how many pastors they are taking and I am sure there are many more qualified people who can serve but throughout my ministry this will be an important topic for me.  For the most part as Lutherans I think we are scared to talk about these issues, we live in a world where we preach Law and Gospel — so how do we handle the gospel when we are dealing with someone who broke the law and does not show remorse?  Of course theologically we will still love them and we will reassure them of God’s love — but is there something else?  Is there something missing from the conversation that we need to include?

There is something facisinating to me about the criminial mind – for me it is a mix of theological, moral, ethical, and psychological issues mixed perhaps with some issues around the nature of evil in the human spirit.  Perhaps I can find time in the months and years to come to explore this alittle deeper and I can find opportunities as a church (both St. Marks and the church at large) to help educate and stimulate interest in others.

New Job, New Home, New Blog

July 22, 2008 in Uncategorized with 2 Comments

I have been a pastor for a week.  It feels good.  I came into the church with 65-70 kids running around during Vacation Bible School.  It was kind of crazy — but a good kind  of crazy.  I prepared for my first service as well as my first time presiding over communion.  It was a good feeling — it really helped me solidify my call as a pastor.  It helped me gain more confidence in this vocation that I have been called too.

There is so much going on right now it is hard to sit down and spill everything out.  It feels like my life is a fast moving train and there is no way to stop it.  However, with that being said things are coming together. 

We moved in our new place and really like it.  We have a garage full of boxed somewhat organized into different piles but there is still unpacking that needs to be done. 

I am getting more and more familiar with the church and how the church runs.  I am finding out their style of ministry while I am finding out my own.  I think we will work well together.

I am trying to catch up on things like emails, blog posts, well wishes and I would like to establish a routein.  I guess things will eventually come……..

I have to get my office in order.  I have a number of boxes of books that need to come in and get organized and my office furnature needs to be arranged to how I want it- I just need to figure out how I want it :)

Ministry is fun – ministry can be overwhelming.  I hope that the fun comes sooner than later :)

 

PS – since I have lots of new stuff going on I decided to change the look and title of my blog.  I hope to stick with this one for awhile.  There are other adjustments that need to be made but I decided to call it “Life Together” – I chose this since I am starting a new life- That involves you, my new church home and community.  I also enjoy the book by the same title by Bonhoeffer.  You should check it out! (another blog topic for the future)

60 Days

July 5, 2008 in Uncategorized with 4 Comments

60 Days ago:

  • I was still a seminary student
  • I was ready to start finals
  • I was about to leave my job as a part time youth director
  • I was actually feeling quite healthy – a little stressed but healthy
  • I lived in PA
  • I just started the call process
  • I was in my 20′s
  • Summer did not start

The last 60 days

  • I graduated seminary
  • I started and ended a job as a line cook
  • I turned 30
  • I moved to Vermont
  • I fell down a flight of stairs – hurt my head and I have had back problems since
  • I finished the call process and have been called to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Baldwinsville, NY
  • I signed a one year lease for a townhouse in Baldwinsville, NY
  • I have had a stomach bug for the last week
  • Summer started

The Next 60 days

  • I will move with my family to New York
  • I will drive to PA again to get our stuff
  • I will start my new job/ministry
  • I will hopefully be somewhat settled in our new house
  • Summer will end
  • I will get on a regular blogging schedule

This was the best way for me to sum up my life the last 60 days.  I have given highlights here and there.  The one place I did not announce my new position as pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Baldwinsville, NY has been on here. I am sorry to all my blogging friends.

Like I said above health wise I have not been doing well.  I have had a stomach thing the last week- my whole family has had it — PLUS my back has been out.  I have had trouble walking and just standing.  Today was the first day I have been able to walk normally but that has been after two straight days of laying on the floor.

I am excited to start my life as a pastor in my new ministry.  I start July 15th!! I will not have internet for the next few days as we move our stuff to our new place.

Vermont

June 18, 2008 in Uncategorized with 3 Comments

It is nice to be back in Vermont for awhile.  There is a calmness about Vermont that is unlike anywhere I have been since I left.  People here still have the “east coast attitude” that you need to be going 100 miles an hour but there is a laidbackness to life at the same time.  I don’t know if that makes sense but you can feel it when you are here.

It is fun to see my kids interact with their grandparents and Uncles and cousins.  I feel better knowing that they are getting to know their extended family.  Since my potential call is around 4 hours away I hope we can make it back to Vermont more often- especially during the summer time.  Who wants to drive anywhere in upstate NY or Vermont in the winter?!?!!

I am hoping we have secured a place to live.  We have been working at that since mid May.  I have talked with everyone about house buying vs house rental.  We have checked out many housing units and have decided to rent for awhile.  We want to get to know the area and to save up and have a solid foundation going into owning a home.  This process of first call is drawn out but when you are moving you are moving fast so we want to make sure we do the right thing.

I have not had too much experience in rent to own- but that was an option for one place.  Actually the rental we are hopefully moving into has the exact same layout at the rent to own, but we did not like the terms and so we decided not to move forward with that.

I am still working at the restaurant here in Vermont.  I still do not like going there……. but I did get a new pair of shoes.  They actually really help with my sore feet and aching back.  Physically I am doing better but I still have pain.  I told them that I have a job interview on the 29th and I will let them know if I will continue to work.   Part of me just wants to quit and to concentrate on moving and getting settled once I have my call in hand.  Another part of me thinks I should continue to work.  I guess it depends on when my start date is.  This week they have me working close to 40 hours.  It will be interesting what they put me down for next week since they know I will most likely be leaving soon.

I must say this transition time between graduation and first call has not been easy.  I was told that it would not be — we have done our best to make it as smooth as possible and for the most part it is smooth.  I don’t know what i would of done without my parents help.  It would of been a lot harder without them.  I guess that’s what family is for…..thank God for Vermont.

One Step Closer

June 13, 2008 in Uncategorized with 3 Comments

I met with the church council which is pretty much step two in the call process (the first is a meeting with the call committee).  I am moving to the last step which is going before the congregation.  I will do that at the end of the month.  Thank you all for the prayers during this time of uncertainty.  It has really helped.

I am finally “home” for the time being.  I have traveled almost three thousand miles since memorial day weekend. That is almost 130 miles a day.  But most of those miles were done in large stints.  I am glad to be in one place for the next two weeks.  Then finally we will be settled for a long time.

It is time for some sleep — now that I am settled here in Vermont I hope to catch up on some blogging.  So come back some more.

No Time

June 7, 2008 in Uncategorized with 3 Comments

I don’t have much time to blog right now.  I have to leave for my next shift at the resturant in about an hour.  I have not had internet all week.  My wife and I were in Philadelphia packing up our apartment and putting 98% of our wordly possesions in a 10×15 storage locker.  My hope is that it will stay there until we move to our new residence wherever God leads us.  It was a long and exhausting week but it is done.  I am sad to say I am not sure when we will be headed to PA again.

My body hurts and I am stressed but things are actually going quite smoothly.  We are packed up and moved out, my next interview in this first call process is next Wednesday.  I am not sure what I am going to do next week for internet because I will be at the Upstate NY Synod Assembly.  It should be a good time though.

I have a job at the Sports Legends bar and grill as a line cook.  I really don’t like it but it is money in this time of unemployment.  I feel bad being there only a short time.

Well I have to go and figure out what I am going to do about my sore back so I can make it through my 6 hour shift……

Page 30 of 50« First...1020«2829303132»4050...Last »