It's Monday. It's been a week since I preached and was introduced to the congregation last Sunday and had my first official day in the office on Tuesday. How am I feeling?
Today? Tired, have a headache, but even with that I'm happy and excited about my new placement. People have been very welcoming, it seems they are trying to celebrate that they've been able to make this new position happen, and also bring me into the parish family. I keep hearing, "we're so happy you're here," and "we need you," and other things like that. I typically respond with things like "thank you, I'm very glad to be here too." It's also a little overwhelming because I'm trying to get to know the parish and the people, and also they all want to meet me and introduce themselves, I know a few names already so that's good but it will take some time. They have given me gifts of an oil stock and a children's bible, and they had the children draw pictures for me (they are just the cutest!). At the 2nd service yesterday I read the gospel for the first time there, and during communion I handed out bread. Last Sunday I think I was a little dazed and it seemed a bit surreal. This Sunday at the altar rail it was very humbling and special to be present with these people as they took communion - and to see the range from elder to the very young and to realize I'm going to be a part of the congregation.
Because they're so happy I'm here and they've been wanting to bring someone on for a year and a half, and I've gotten positive comments about my sermon, I'm feeling a little pressure. Can I live up to their expectations, I hope my next sermon is okay, etc. Advice from a couple sources has been to let them love me and enjoy the honeymoon period and their celebration.
I am concerned about how I'm going to get my stuff packed up to move when I'm spending all my time in the new city. By the couple times I came "home" this week I discovered I needed some down time with the kitties etc. and so didn't get much done. One day last week I was driving in the new city and had this moment where it really hit me... I'm *moving* here, I'm going to be living here for who knows how long. It was stranged, felt a little like pinching myself. It will probably feel more real and less dream-like or like an extended vacation once I move into my new apartment and get settled in. I can move in there around August 28th or 30th. Just over a week away (hence the anxiety over packing if I'm not going to be in town all week).
Other fun events this week:
Friday my cell phone was either lost or stolen so instead of returning "home" friday afternoon to chill and pack I spent the afternoon and early evening dealing with lost cell phone trauma, trying to retrace steps, suspend the account, and eventually just got a new phone since I was eligible and considering getting one anyway - just wasn't planning on doing it Friday.
Yesterday as I left new city to head this direction I noticed my car was shuddering at 60 MPH, pulled off the road, inspected car, couldn't find anything wrong. Got back on the freeway, noticed it got better around 65 to 70 MPH. Finished the drive. This morning on the way to an appointment heard a "thunk" and thought I saw a piece of black debris. Hmmm - a piece of tire? Was close to my destination. When I got out of the car, was missing a piece of tread. So I got to get 2 new tires this morning.
I did round up some empty boxes earlier, returned the "step" I'd borrowed from my field ed so I could be seen in the pulpit when I preached at the new parish (someone in the new parish has already made one for me to use there), and had lunch with field ed supervisor and another priest on staff at that parish, caught them up a little, got some feedback from them.
One God send has been being able to stay with Alum and spouse (C & K). It's only about 25 minutes to commute if that instead of over an hour, there's a comfy bed in the guest room plus my own bathroom to use, and TV and company. C is a year ahead so has some experience, but being *only* a year ahead things are still fresh enough in memory to really remember what it was like and offer good advice or feedback. It's been good to have someone around my age who's been through it to kind of talk "shop" with, and also get to know some people in town that won't be a part of the parish I'm serving. Friday as I recovered from cell-phone drama and realized I didn't have it in me to drive "home", just wouldn't be safe, was watching some goofy, somewhat mindless TV with C's spouse, K. Watching part of the America's got talent finale, we had a good laugh over the "wacky" talents finalists, especially the guy playing guitar with a hand mixer... how do you even come up with that idea??? Then watched an episode of project runway where they had to make an outfit out of recycled materials, there was this one scene that just had us in stitches, their TV will let you rewind so we had to watch it again. :) Their incredible hospitality is truly a blessing during this crazy transition time. I'm not sure what I could do once I get settled to try and pay back their generosity.
I will be heading back to new city tonight, I think that's better than having to get up at some insane hour of the morning and not knowing what kind of traffic I might hit.
Last week I felt like I didn't *do* a whole lot - kind of wondered if I should be trying to *do* more, but Rector and another staff member seemed happy with what we were doing, so okay. A lot of my week was just trying to get oriented, get the lay of the land, etc. attend various things happening at the parish. I'm not really sure how this week will go. I have various meetings and services to attend and we'll make some pastoral visits to introduce me to some home-bound parishioners. Things should also be a little different in several months when I can help with priestly things.
I just remembered that I did get to talk to a woman who came in about getting her daughter baptized. Rector got stuck in traffic on the way back from an appointment and called and asked me to keep an eye out for her and that I could start talking to her about it some until he got there. That was a little scary for a moment - I'm sitting there thinking, ummmm what do I say, where to start? So I felt a little uncertain etc. inside, but I was able to talk to her, didn't completely freeze up or draw a blank, and that was just on the spot. In the future I should know if I'm having that conversation ahead of time and can be thinking about how to approach it and what kinds of things I'd like to say or go over with them.
I suppose I should try to throw a few things in a box so I don't feel like my trip here (besides letting the kitties hang with their human and a couple other things) was a waste of time and gas.
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