It’s been a great month
This has been a great pastor appreciation month. My associate, Pastor Eric and I say thank you to all of you—so many kind words, gifts, food donations and people generally going the extra mile to make us feel special. Just as a sample, today I received a restaurant gift certificate & a great berry pie from adults, a plate of scrumptious chocolate brownies & card from a teen and a handmade appreciation card from a child. Wow! Beth Winans has done a great job coordinating it all too.
United prayers were a highlight
Last week as Eric and I (and our wives too in 1st service) knelt at the altar rails while many in the congregation gathered around us, laid hands on us and prayed, I felt so blessed. How blessed to be prayed for by the gathered body of Christ. It is so encouraging and empowering. JoAnne told me she was doing pretty well at not being emotional through all the thoughtful prayers until one of the teen girls prayed, then she was so touched, she could no longer hold back the tears and needed my handkerchief.
Seeing other people minister is rewarding
One of the biggest blessings of the month for me was to see so many people step up in this morning’s services and do things I had not seen them do before—like Anthony calling for the ushers and Caleb Wilkinson praying over the offering in second service, Mystical speaking so articulately about Eric’s analogies, Phil Seamans tenderly leading the congregation in prayer time in second service, Shaun Harrington clearly bringing a very Biblical message in second service and so many others who gave testimonies. As I near retirement, it becomes more and more gratifying to me to see that our church is equipping people to do the work of ministry in so many different forms. One of the greatest pastor appreciation things that could happen is to see those I have influenced “catching the wave,” “getting on board,” and actually doing the things I do, sometimes better than I do them, but in the same Christian Spirit. That is how the body of Christ is to grow and multiply its influence.
Thank you all for a great month.
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.” 2 Th 1:3 NIV