for those of you keeping score,...

today should be an awesome day!

today, my NJ church installs a new pastor. in november of 2004, pastor j retired, and we've had a vacancy period since then. since january of 2005, we've had a vacancy pastor.

however, our particular vacancy pastor wasn't involved in anything more than sunday morning worship services, made no effort to learn names, and in an interesting twist of fate, 30 years ago he was the pastor of a different NJ church, and quite a few people left that church and joined this one on account of him. don't get me wrong, it's been nice to have a minister around for the past year, and he's done alright. by the same token, he's not been encouraging of church growth because he refuses to do some parts of the worship service since he doesn't like the hymnal we use, because he doesn't generally encourage discussion (it's his view or you're wrong), and because he has not made a bit of effort to learn the names of people he's been working with for the past year. it's not *all* on the pastor to lead a church, and our lay leaders have been fantastic, but it definitely helps and encourages to have a pastor who's a bit more energetic and involved with the congregation. if i had found this church while he was the minister, i probably wouldn't have joined it... but having seen what it can be like with good leadership, and the congregation more or less being a home away fom home for me, i have no reason to give up on it even if we haven't had an optimal leader for the past year.... it's just been... interesting...

so anyhow, today things begin to change. this morning will be our vacancy pastor will lead his last service at my NJ church, and there will be a coffee hour after to say goodbye to him. in my memphis church (which also installs a new pastor today), they had a potluck last month to say goodbye to their interim minister, and it was PACKED... he also chose to be much more involved in the congregation... heck, he met me only twice ever and knew and remembered more about me than my NJ temporary pastor does... i doubt this coffee hour will be as well attended. our temporary pastor's done alright, but he hasn't built up relationships in the church, so it's hard to give a hearty farewell to someone you don't know tons well, but it will be fine just the same.

the real excitement though is this afternoon. at 3pm, we install our new pastor. the last time i remember being at an installation service was when i was 15 and my memphis church installed pastor mike. it's a really cool kind of service where all the pastors in the area are involved and say a blessing over the new pastor. most people in my NJ church, if they've ever been to an installation, haven't been to one in 30 years (when pastor j was originally installed), so they don't remember well, if at all, how awesome an installation service can be. i'm excited to be there. :)

...and... starting next week, we have a pastor who cares quite a bit more about who we are as a congregation and will be a substantially more involved... i can't wait!

so, yeah, today will be a fantastic day. :)

the end.