From the Front of the Church to the Back...

Transitions are not something that I've ever been good at. Ever. I'm surprised I moved out here sometimes and braved that transition but here I am.

And now I'm in the middle of another...

Pastor Craig is working out well IMHO. He's busting his tail to learn the ropes at the church and at the school. He comes to say hi to my students rather frequently which is nice and plays ping pong with them. (A sure way to get a TON of love in our school) I make the coffee in the mornings still and life is somewhat going to be routine soon.

But there is a bit of tension under it all. We lost three families last year and one of them is still having an influence in the fact that we lost a student last week. She didn't want to leave but Mom made her.

The other tension is that it's a difficult spot when you are changing pastors and this church has had more than its share of wounds in this regard. So I'm working my tail off to make this transition as easy as possible. I'm aware though, that I am just one woman.

The side effect of the Rice's being in Salt Lake at least part time? A lot of other shake-ups. Devin, the pastor's son is the church drummer -- luckily, Brother David has replaced him as drummer. Unfortunately, this left another hole in the leadership.

So I too, have gotten moved. I'm not playing clarinet for awhile. Brother David was the sound guy and as Ashley is in Salt Lake at least half the time and David is on drums, I have been moved to the sound booth. *wrinkles nose daintily*

It's not that I think the sound booth is unimportant. To the contrary, I know it's a VERY important job. Services can hinge on a good sound person. But I'm not feeling comfortable in the role yet and if you goof up back there it's worse than letting a clarinet squeak that you can cover up.

Example?

Pastor Craig wanted scriptures on the wall on Sunday Morning. Brother David was not at church so I was still in the back during the sermon and spent a goodly chunk trying to figure out HOW to get the scriptures on the wall. (I called Pastor Rice after church Sunday afternoon so now I know) In the middle of this, the computer froze, so I had to reboot. The projector was still on so all the "Windows is shutting down" stuff is still going on the front screen and then when it restarted the sound was ALL OVER the sanctuary. (Bro. Sanders has shown me how to turn that sound off now)

I now think that everyone should be sentenced to several services in the sound booth. Then you don't get stares when you miss a cue on the projector (Which I'm not bad at because A. I'm good with computers and B. I pick up the music cues easily). Someone kept turning around to me EVERY TIME that I messed up this week. ANNOYING!!!!

Pastor Rice has promised me that this is temporary but I don't know who else can do it which means my clarinet and I are going through a temporary separation. I will serve in any needful way, but this is not my favorite church position. It should get better that I know SOME of what I should know though.

In the meantime, Baronial Birthday is next week. HOORAY! And it's getting pretty out here -- not quite as pretty as southern Indiana but nice enough with a crisp fall scent to the air.

God is good, all the time. Even when I don't understand where he's taking me.

Transitions...

So it begins...

Pastor Craig arrived two weeks ago -- though he is now at General Conference in North Carolina (the lucky duck gets to hear Sarah Palin speak tonight! I'm so jealous). Pastor Rice is spending half his weeks here in Idaho Falls and half in Salt Lake City.

I'm opening up to Pastor Craig a bit. Or at least am working with how I feel for what is the good of the church. I'm trying to encourage those that have never had another pastor to give it a chance. I'm trying to encourage the kids to bond a bit with Pastor Craig even though the non church kids don't know he's going to be the new principal.

One of my students today told me how much she hates change. Devin and Ashley are with Pastor and Sister Rice in Salt Lake City this week and she's all by herself in the high school. It's driving her nuts. I told her change was coming. We are close because we both have ADD. Neither of us do well with change particularly.

All the while, as I learn to love and trust a new pastor (and that is a CHOICE I make) I find myself loving Pastor and Sister Rice more and more with every day and it's tearing my heart apart.

No, they are not leaving yet. The arrangement is still going to be that any of us can go to them if we need them (and there are some issues I want to talk to an elder about!) and not step on anyone's toes. Which is a blessing.

But I'm going to miss going into the pastor's office and spilling my guts. Teasing both the Rice's. I'm going to miss praying with Ashley at the altar and hearing her say "I love you Sister Naomi". Sitting on the floor of the pastor's office and listening to him and Sister Rice advise me on my life.

I have been posting new stuff on my EA (Everyone's Apostolic) site in the last few days and I sat looking at the picture slide show as I listened to "Seasons of Love" from Rent. Half of the pictures are from church and school and a few others that are there are from Indiana.

So how do you measure a year? How do you measure love?

And how do you measure a life transition?

Topsy Turvey...

So what can I say these days?

A week in Indiana was a long one due to the circumstances. Funeral, etc and it was rough. It was nice to finally meet the beautiful Kaylee though -- and seeing the nephews and my siblings was awesome.

So I came back to my structure here. My community, my city, my home. I was dying to see my pastor and his wife and to feel the love and support of my church.

I still have that love but by the next week, things had gotten topsy turvey here too.

Two weeks ago Pastor Rice announced that the church in Salt Lake City was voting on a new pastor and that his name was the only one on the ballot.

The church sat in stunned silence as he explained the circumstances behind this occurrance. I sat with tears in my eyes waiting to leave. The Rice's are my family here.

Pastor Rice spoke with me separately after church -- he is still pastoring the church -- pastoring both as a matter of fact (The vote in Salt Lake was unanimous). The pastor for now will be Pastor Craig Rice (Pastor Rice's son) and we will vote after a few months.

After a lot of prayer I have accepted what is going on. The only thing I heard in my head when I was praying was "Do you serve me or do you serve a man?" Then Sister Rice talked to me about how the church depends on me here.

Aaron and Shayla Sanders will eventually be going to Salt Lake as well. Leaving one Rocky Mountain Hoosier in Idaho Falls, but I can't leave. Until God tells me to I stay in Idaho. I can't believe how firmly I am holding that idea but what else can I do? I see the temple several times a week.

The LDS culture here, the temple, the wards on every corner -- they all remind me WHY I am here. This is my home -- I will not leave. This town needs truth. Maybe I am not the one to reach them all, but I can try. And I can make my pastor's life easier in the meantime.

More later.