IN WHICH BEAR HAS A STRANGE SUNDAY, AND PONDERS

As usual on Sundays, Bear went to morning worship this morning.  Yet things were anything but usual. And that left me wondering.

To understand, we have to go back to last Sunday, and progress through the week. 

Last Sunday, our Pastor, B, noted there were some tasks which needed to be done to help with worship on Sundays.

People were needed to fold the bulletins, which contain the prayers and readings for our worship service, as well as some notices of coming events. Having been the minister of small congregations, where I was both pastor and church secretary, I've had lots of experience with folding bulletins. So I was happy to let others have the experience.

People were also needed to do some getting and ushering. My only experience with ushering was in getting a family of ducks across a busy street. The problem was that the ducklings could not climb up the curb when they go to the far side. So, I had to toss the fluff balls on webbed feet over the curb so they could follow their mom to the river, about a hundred yards further on. I didn't think people needed to be thrown over the curb at church, so I passed on that one.

So, I left B a note saying that I wouldn't take on some the requested tasks, but if he ever wanted or needed to take a Sunday off (in addition to his holidays), I would lead worship for him, even on short notice. Which seemed a reasonable offer from a retired pastor. Fits with my skills, and what I would like to do, and what the congregation might need. 

During the week, I focused on being physically active. And on getting stronger, through the things I had learned in the pain management course. I started to feel that I was coming alive again!

On Wednesday, I had tea at the local coffee shop. BC was the principal of a theological school before his retirement. He had been one of my teachers, then my thesis supervisor, now my friend. We always have interesting conversations about things ethical. In this case, challenges facing many churches, particularly problems with leadership, and leaders.

On Thursday, I went to have tea with some friends at another church. It's a place where I used to have tea regularly, but missed for several weeks because I was attending the Chronic Pain Clinic's program on pain management.  The priest there told me of some major issues that had arisen since I last had tea there. Leadership issues. I just listened to her. It was really sad. I chatted a bit, and gave her a big hug. We always give each other hugs when we meet.

I decided that I should get a hair cut — at the shop right around the corner from that church. I was feeling fairly scruffy, and thought it was, maybe, about time.

The world changed, Friday after supper. B, our minister, was having problems. I thought he had those things under control; I was wrong. He is really not well. He is going to be away from us for a while, getting some rest and other care.

And would I lead worship this Sunday?

Well, having promised, I could't very well say no. Especially when I had no reason to say "No," and lots of reason to say "Yes." 

And so it was.

Everything was ready for the service, except the sermon. So, on Saturday, I gathered some thoughts to share this morning.

Things were different. B had arranged for new members to be received, but I really didn't know what had been planned. So, after two members of the Church Board had explained what was going on with B's absence, our lay leader and I did what was appropriate. I explained to the folks that I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but I knew our worship would be good. And it was. Even if not quite the way we would have done it usually.

By the way, I spoke about living in interesting times (as per the Chinese curse), the kinds of times we were experiencing in the world and the congregation. And how we turn those "interesting" times into times of blessing, by relying on God love of us, and working together as God's people.

But.

But I kept wondering. The feeling of being stronger, the joy of feeling stranger, and the commitment to stay stronger. The talk about church leadership on Wednesday morning. The conversation of Thursday. Getting a hair cut. Last Sunday's promise, and the phone call on Friday night — I had never dreamed that B would actually need on take me up on that — and certainly not this quickly. All in all, an interesting series of coincidences.

Or. . . .