- Yesterday I told little she-who-is that in exactly one year she would start kindergarten and that mommy would probably cry. She was bemused by this.
- Speaking of crying, she has been very sensitive lately. Simple corrections cause little tears to leak out. Which make me feel like a tool. So today my goal is to not make C cry. It’s a small goal.
- As for the divine miss M, Twenty months is one of my absolute favorite ages. There’s this constant delight when she sees that I understand and can respond to what she’s saying. This also seems to be when humor and personality really come through. My current favorite words are “tih-too” (tissue) and “move!” In a reversal of roles I wasn’t expecting, her older sister pesters her quite a bit, and M likes to holler “QUIET!” which cracks me up.
- Our fat kitty peed in a non-litter box place last night. This is a very disturbing development. You cat owners know that once this starts, it’s hard to stop it. I don’t know what’s stressing him out. Do you suppose he knows he’s going to have gum surgery this week?
- I am signed up to take this presbytery training for pastors on how to lead congregations through transformation and change. Churches whose pastors go through the training are eligible to apply for various grants and resources. There was some question as to whether I was right for this training, since I am an associate, and will be working part-time next year. But I told them that, while I hope to use the training in various ways at Suburban Pres., I also think that the training will bear fruit in some future call. Yesterday I received an e-mail from one of the points of contact for the training who said, “Just to let you know I have no concerns about your participation in the pastor training. Actually, I think the church needs more non-conformists to nudge us out of the tendency to settle into our comfortable little boxes.”
In my 35 good-girl, rule-following years on this earth I don’t think I have ever, ever been called a non-conformist, and it just made my day.
- I think I was still basking in the glow of the non-conformist statement when I went to personnel last night to present some proposals for the part-time arrangement. It was nice to be able to say “This is outside the norm for us, but this is what I feel I need and can offer at this time.” They asked some probing questions but were generally affirming. I will tell the session next week that this is in the works, but it will take a while to figure out who’s going to do what.
One of their big questions is how the reshuffling and utilization of parish associates (clergy who attend our church and could work part-time for us) could also relieve some of Senior Pastor’s workload. Of course she has to be willing to let some things go, which is hard for her. (We are a program sized church with corporate sized ministries and a pastoral-size-style of minister.) There are a few things. The biggest chunk is preaching though—three services a weekend, three times a month take their toll. So one of my proposed scenarios to personnel is more preaching. I wasn’t even going to to go there until SP herself brought it up again two weeks ago. Which shocked me, since we were going to do just that earlier this year until she got cold feet about it. As she acknowledged at the time, what she wants to be comfortable with and what she is actually comfortable with are two different things. She shares ministry well in many ways, but this is hard for various reasons. Anyway, the cool thing is that I was able to name that to personnel in a very careful but direct way and feel like they would hear and respect it.
By the way, she and I have talked about this dynamic and hopefully will do so again tomorrow when we meet and debrief the personnel meeting.
Interesting times.
10 Responses to “this and that”
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Asides
» The latest on SBJ: at one year, he weighs 30.5 pounds (99%), is 32 inches tall (97%) and is 100% cute.
» I have been remiss in posting SBJ’s latest stats: 23 pounds and 27 inches at six months. Yes, I’ve got the big mama biceps.
» Aaaaaand little she-who-is lost another tooth this week!
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Our oldest cat is freaking out too. Anya wonders if it’s possible that the cat realizes that a baby is on the way.
Cat could be picking up stress from the environment. If humans are anxious, cat will be.
There are days when asking if he wants a glass of water sends one of my boys into tragedy mode.
I’m trying to teach him the word “tragedy,” but he knows I’m setting him up for something and won’t do it.
The miniature fainting couch is still a possibility.
the fact that there was even a question if you were “appropriate” for the transformational change thing is….just….unbelievable. Thank goodness for the email that called your participation outside the box. So the people in charge of change should be the people in charge? Has that ever been a good idea?
My first thought about the cat is a possible UTI. I hear that some cats are susceptible to them. If so, the cat has my total sympathy!
Clearly, these people who questioned your participation are idiots. That’s all I have to say.
In fairness to the powers that be, there wasn’t too much question about it… and it’s something the presbytery totally pays for, so I can’t blame them too much for trying to connect the dots. I was just mainly really tickled at being called a non-conformist.
Am I understanding correctly that your senior pastor preaches three Sundays a month and you only one? Wow. For all the complaints I have about my rector, he does share preaching responsibilities–and celebrating/presiding. We pretty much split those 50/50.
Wow RDM! Your arrangement is enviable, and rare in my experience. Most associates I know are on a monthly schedule or close to it.
To be honest, I’m pretty OK with a monthly preaching arrangement, especially since preaching at Suburban Pres involves Saturday at 5:30 and two services Sunday morning. It’s the mixed message of “Would you like to preach more?… Never mind” that is a challenge.
Truth be known, I don’t think my rector wants to work that hard any more. We have the same service schedule, but the person not preaching only has to come to the 10:00 am Sunday service.
I am really grateful I get to preach as often as I do–whatever the reason! And yes, the mixed message would be a challenge–and very frustrating!