This is the fifth Sunday in a row that I’ve been away from my church. We’ve had a great time in Colorado. I got a lot accomplished and our whole family has had a ball. But we’ll be glad to be back in Michigan later this week (Lord willing).
And the best thing about coming back is our church family (I love you too biological family!). Being away reminds me what a privilege it is serve at University Reformed Church.
Here are just a few reasons I’ve been thankful for URC even while I’ve been gone.
- I never worry that things can’t go on without me. Ben, our associate pastor, the rest of the staff and the elders and diaconate can more than cover for me. They do most of the work anyway, so what’s a few weeks without the senior pastor? I heard we had our biggest offering of the year while I was gone. I suppose that can make a pastor paranoid or pleased. I choose the latter. The ministry does not revolve around me. I like that.
- The congregation is always supportive of my time away and respectful of it. If there’s complaining, I don’t hear it. I just hear a lot of “We’re glad you can go” and “We are eager for you to come back.”
- When I do get emails from folks back home it is usually to say, “We had a great service this morning. So-and-so gave a wonderful sermon.” I’m happy my congregation loves the word preached, not just the word preached by Kevin.
- Most of the time men from within our church preach while I’m gone. But on a few occasions I call on my pastor friends from other churches to fill in. I love to check up with them how things went (yes, I do that). They always tell me how attentive the congregation way, how people stayed after to talk to them, how encouraging it was to worship with at URC. I take no credit for such a report, but it is encouraging.
Bottom line: we miss worshiping with the people we know and love. It’s a nice change of pace to visit other churches, but there’s no place like home. I look forward to being back. Colorado is nice, but our church is in Michigan.
There’s more water and more oxygen too.
