2021 At the Vicarage Week # 10

It is hard to believe we are 10 weeks into this new year. It is true what they say, “The older you get the faster the years go.” So much has already happened this year and there is so much more in store!

March 5- Cinquo De Marzo. I am still sleeping downstairs to help Mom, but she is needing less and less help. Soon I think I shall buy a baby monitor and return to my own bedroom. I am also thinking of a Life alert System so that we can begin leaving Mom alone for brief periods again.

Last night my brain was so full of Vicarage needs and ministry possibilities, I got up to pray at 12:30 A.M. and finally got to bed at about 2:45 A.M. Was up for the day at 4. God told me this was part of the new mantel He is resting upon me and that there would be many more nights spent in prayer, but that He would give me the power to run in this deeper race.

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March 6th– I made up for last night’s sleeplessnes. Mom and I slept through until 7:30 A.M. this morning. The dogs didn’t even stir.

Today Mom and I folded and put away clothes from the week’s laundry. Then I started cleaning my old office upstairs. I don’t know what we will turn it inot yet, but I am determined not to let it become the junk room again. Admittedly that is what it is now, but not for long!

March 7th– Today was part 2 of our sermon series Enter the Promise. Today’s topic was “entering the promise by building a mindset of honoring and obeying the Word of God.”

https://fb.watch/499WpKY7BZ/

After service I met with the board for our 1st official interview conversation. We went from 12 noon to about 3 P.M. It was great conversation. The pathway is opening up before me and us I think.

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March 8th- This was writing day and I wrote and wrote and wrote.

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March 9th- I led staff meeting today. Our staff discipleship question today was….

What are the characteristics of a person who is coming to know Jesus?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

March 10th- This has been a busy week, meetings everyday…. but I am learning this new pace. This morning I had a meeting about our practical philosophy of prayer as a church with one of our prayer warriors. I know that we must give a place of honor to prayer in our community. Our corporate prayer life must deepen.

Going forward the lead pastor of Cornerstone will have three top priorities, whether that person is me or someone else the prioroities will be the same…

  1. Leading the vision and mission of the church
  2. Leading the prayer life of the congregation
  3. Overseeing the discipleship and equipping of the saints

This is our prayer/ discipleship meeting from tonight.

https://fb.watch/4cxCFC-16q/

March 11th- Today lacked personal balance. I did not give myself enough transition time between events and I did not close my night with enough prayer. It left me feeling a little catywompus on the inside. It makes for bad dreams.

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2021 At the Vicarage Week #9

The purpose of these posts is to give you a quick glimpse into our lives at the Vicarage.

Feb. 26th– Today we met with Tamie Charbonneau a lady from the church who is going to come and sit with mom while we are at church on Sunday. Tamie is a member of our church and an EMT. I am thankful she has offered to help us.

May be an image of 2 people, people standing and outdoors

After she left I finished writing my sermon for Sunday. I have not actually blogged at all in a few days. Sitting down to do anything more than ministry writing has been out of the question.

When Amanda got home from work my friend Ray and I headed up to Cheshire County Medical Center to pick up our elder friend who was just being discharged today after a week in hospital.

Feb. 27th- Saturday. I don’t think I have mentioned it before but Brenda has been away this week house sitting for one of her supporters. It has been good as Amanda and I are discovering what it is going to be like when Brenda goes back to The Netherlands working our schedules around Mom’s needs. I know it has only been a week, but I sense that perhaps we are not going back to our old normal where mom could get up and around on her own. I am beginning to plan for the long haul here. My friend Ray reminded me just yesterday that I had to be sure (especially if this was a long haul ahead) to give myself time to be a human being not just a human doing.

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Feb. 28th– Today I preached the first sermon in a series called Entering the Promise….

https://fb.watch/3XLK_ghIpb/

March 1st– I have decided Mondays will be writing days. I have had Carrie (my secretary at Cornerstone) book them in my calendar. I am working on several writing projects this week…sermon for Sunday…. Bible study for Wednesday…. a list of questions for the board, and at last I have gotten back to blogging. Yay!!!

Photo by Markus Winkler on Pexels.com

March 2nd– Staff meeting today. We have been having a conversation about our purpose, mission and vision. Today we spoke about genuine life change.

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE CAN REALLY CHANGE?

March 3rd– Today I had an appointment with one of our elders to meet with a nursing agency which is going to help her around the issues of aging.

This evening was our on line prayer….Bible study to discuss the letters to the churches in Revelation. Our subject tonight was the letter to the church in Thyatira.

https://fb.watch/43A0BG2QFc/

March 4th- My day in office is such a busy day. It is admin and paperwork and people contacts. Aside from Tuesday staff meeting it is the one day the staff can really grab hold of me in person. The rest of the week I am prepping for sermons Bible studies meetings and doing visitations.

While I met with staff in office today, Brenda was home introducing my mother to Carol Marion who is coming to visit with Mom while we are all away at meetings on Friday night.

May be an image of 1 person
Thanks Carol!

Tonight I met with Paul; Hackett at the Vicarage to go over the results of my DISC personality assessment.

I am and SC.

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