We had a good time at the District Clergy Christmas Gathering in Exeter, NH today. The gathering began with worship and Communion, continued with a time of sharing and a Yankee Swap gift exchange, and concluded with a nice chili & soup lunch catered by the folks of the Exeter church. We really appreciated the childcare provided for this event, which makes it so much easier for those of us who are clergy couples who are parenting small children to participate. I came home with a Matthew Fox book on prayer, and Sara with a peppermint scented candle -- typical Yankee swap gifts! It's always good to share fellowship with colleagues: to break bread together, to hear stories, to know that we are connected through the covenant that we share as United Methodist pastors.
Plans are coming along for our Christmas Eve celebrations... more on that once all the final details are in place... but it's very exciting!
Tomorrow our District Superintent, Mike Davis, is meeting with our Staff-Parish Relations Committee, and then he'll come over to our house to meet with us following. We're looking forward to sharing with him some of the progress we're making toward establishing this new community of faith, New Light! We're having lunch with a young couple -- both in seminary, newly married -- who are feeling called to church planting and co-pastoring. It'll be great to share experiences and ideas!
Ministry in this season and this setting is filling me with such joy!
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