I'm letting an early Hallelujah slip because I have reason to be especially joyful this day -- prayers have been answered! I'm employed!! Praise God!
I went to this interview on Monday afternoon at a staffing agency and the handler said I have just the job for you... My previous experience with agencies has been less than good, so I was a little skeptical. I have talked to this lady no less than three times a day everyday since then. The very next day she had an interview lined up for me. I called the person doing the hiring and had a wonderful conversation with her and scheduled an in-person interview with her for yesterday. I met with her and really liked her. She's going to be demanding but also the type of person who will mentor you. Apparently they loved me because they contacted my handler right away to make an offer!!
I'm so relieved! Money was getting really tight there for awhile! They made an excellent salary offer so it looks like I'll be able to stay in my apartment, which is a total blessing. It's very convenient to the new job and church is less than a minute away. I am so thanking God right now.
I start in two weeks, which is good because I need to start getting back into the rhythm of getting up early, especially with fitting in my prayer and Bible reading time.
God is good!!
30 March 2007
27 March 2007
Bizarro
There was an Evangelism committee meeting today and being unemployed I could actually make it so off I trotted to church at noon. I hadn't planned on that, but I picked up the church newsletter off the floor and saw the calendar with the meeting time on it so I went. First time in months. They have a lot of cool stuff going on.
After the meeting, my pastor and I had a long talk. Apparently the assistant pastor, a Licensed Local Pastor is leaving our church and not taking another church -- she's leaving the process to go back to school full-time to get her MTS. She'll be working as an Admissions Rep at the University. We are both shocked. Leaving the process is a very big deal.
The assistant pastor position was created especially for her, and they won't be hiring someone in her place. Our talk today covered some of the responsibilities I'll be taking over as I proceed into candidacy. It's exciting but a little daunting. All I can do is pray that I continue to hear God's call.
People are telling me how great last week's Lenten Study was, and are asking me to do a study in the fall. That's good confirmation for the plans I have in place.
The agency called me today to let me know a company would like to do a phone interview with me. So I am calling them tomorrow morning. Busy day.
It's 75 degrees out today. Gorgeous.
After the meeting, my pastor and I had a long talk. Apparently the assistant pastor, a Licensed Local Pastor is leaving our church and not taking another church -- she's leaving the process to go back to school full-time to get her MTS. She'll be working as an Admissions Rep at the University. We are both shocked. Leaving the process is a very big deal.
The assistant pastor position was created especially for her, and they won't be hiring someone in her place. Our talk today covered some of the responsibilities I'll be taking over as I proceed into candidacy. It's exciting but a little daunting. All I can do is pray that I continue to hear God's call.
People are telling me how great last week's Lenten Study was, and are asking me to do a study in the fall. That's good confirmation for the plans I have in place.
The agency called me today to let me know a company would like to do a phone interview with me. So I am calling them tomorrow morning. Busy day.
It's 75 degrees out today. Gorgeous.
26 March 2007
Renewal
My pastor and I are talking about doing an "Adult Confirmation" program next year to coincide with Confirmation. I'd like to present it as an opportunity for people to rediscover and explore their faith. I wrote a Confirmation curriculum about 10 years ago that I think would be transferable here; I'm going to work on an outline and see where we go.
I also need to work on the Easter Dawn service this week. The tough part is going to be the sermon. I want to get it done this week just in case I'm working next week.
My interview today went well, I think. It was with an agency and they were pleased with my test scores as well as my experience. They seemed to have about three jobs they thought I could be presented for. I am continuing to pray that I will simply hear God's call.
I can't believe it's March 26. I've been separated for six months already. It's been a long haul, but I'm doing really well for myself. I'm going to make it.
I also need to work on the Easter Dawn service this week. The tough part is going to be the sermon. I want to get it done this week just in case I'm working next week.
My interview today went well, I think. It was with an agency and they were pleased with my test scores as well as my experience. They seemed to have about three jobs they thought I could be presented for. I am continuing to pray that I will simply hear God's call.
I can't believe it's March 26. I've been separated for six months already. It's been a long haul, but I'm doing really well for myself. I'm going to make it.
23 March 2007
Friday Five:Rivers in the Desert
I found a community on the web called RevGalBlogPals. There are some great posts and it is a network of awesome people. Today is FridayFive day. I haven't done anything like this is such a very long time!
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19, NRSV
As we near the end of the long journey toward Easter, a busy time for pastors and layfolk alike, I ponder the words of Isaiah and the relief and refreshment of a river in the desert.
For this Friday Five, name five practices, activities, people or _____ (feel free to fill in something I may be forgetting) that for you are rivers in the desert.
1. Singing. I turn on my iTunes on my computer and just pick songs to sing, pretending like I'm some big star. An hour of that and I'm totally refreshed, renewed and ready for whatever comes next. I'm also known to do this in the car.
2. Driving. Not ecologically sound (though I do drive a Honda), I love to just get in my car and get lost in the country. Once I ended up in Pennsylvania with no reasonable idea of how to get home. It was awesome.
3. Camping. Getting away by a lake with a stack of books, a campfire and the stars -- I know I can face the world again.
4. Prayer. A little prayer in the middle of a rotten day can make all the difference.
5. Communion. When I have Communion, I really feel like I am a part of something and I leave the church with a sense that I matter to both God and my faith community. It lifts me up till the next time I see them again.
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19, NRSV
As we near the end of the long journey toward Easter, a busy time for pastors and layfolk alike, I ponder the words of Isaiah and the relief and refreshment of a river in the desert.
For this Friday Five, name five practices, activities, people or _____ (feel free to fill in something I may be forgetting) that for you are rivers in the desert.
1. Singing. I turn on my iTunes on my computer and just pick songs to sing, pretending like I'm some big star. An hour of that and I'm totally refreshed, renewed and ready for whatever comes next. I'm also known to do this in the car.
2. Driving. Not ecologically sound (though I do drive a Honda), I love to just get in my car and get lost in the country. Once I ended up in Pennsylvania with no reasonable idea of how to get home. It was awesome.
3. Camping. Getting away by a lake with a stack of books, a campfire and the stars -- I know I can face the world again.
4. Prayer. A little prayer in the middle of a rotten day can make all the difference.
5. Communion. When I have Communion, I really feel like I am a part of something and I leave the church with a sense that I matter to both God and my faith community. It lifts me up till the next time I see them again.
22 March 2007
Confirmation
Last night's Lenten study and Communion service couldn't have gone any better. I was really prepared for it, so I wasn't nervous. I had a guest Elder coming to consecrate the elements for the service - his name was Blessings, he was from Africa and he was AMAZING! The kind of man that just being in his presence made you peaceful.
I started out by talking about my varied Communion experiences in my life. I've probably been to about 10 different types of churches in my 33 years, and the all seem to do Communion a little differently. We talked about how in the United Methodist church Communion has only recently gone from a quarterly to a monthly celebration, and now with the 2004 General Conference we're starting to slowly move toward weekly Communion services, or at the very least, adding Special Communion Services. Then they shared their experiences of frequency of Communion and the way it was shared-- at the rail or intinction, or passed in the pew.
Then I passed out copies of the Great Thanksgiving for Early Lent and went through each section with them, talking about the Trinitarian nature of the prayer and how we have these special settings for special times of the year as reminders of the season we're in. I pulled out specific phrases for them to notice, and then we came together to have Communion. Blessings asked me to help consecrate the elements, which really excited me. I love doing that. It's been a very long time since I have, too, but it came back to me!
Overall, it was a successful night. My pastor sent me an email telling me what a great job I did -- a gold star, she said. But really, the best part was feeling like what I was doing was right. I am becoming more comfortable with my calling, and even though it will be a long time before I am ordained, I know there are many things I can do in the meantime to fulfill it.
Next on my agenda is planning the Easter Dawn Service. This will be the third year I have planned it. It's like my little baby now. I can be pretty creative with it, which makes it both fun and a challenge. What sorts of things do you do with your Dawn Services?
I started out by talking about my varied Communion experiences in my life. I've probably been to about 10 different types of churches in my 33 years, and the all seem to do Communion a little differently. We talked about how in the United Methodist church Communion has only recently gone from a quarterly to a monthly celebration, and now with the 2004 General Conference we're starting to slowly move toward weekly Communion services, or at the very least, adding Special Communion Services. Then they shared their experiences of frequency of Communion and the way it was shared-- at the rail or intinction, or passed in the pew.
Then I passed out copies of the Great Thanksgiving for Early Lent and went through each section with them, talking about the Trinitarian nature of the prayer and how we have these special settings for special times of the year as reminders of the season we're in. I pulled out specific phrases for them to notice, and then we came together to have Communion. Blessings asked me to help consecrate the elements, which really excited me. I love doing that. It's been a very long time since I have, too, but it came back to me!
Overall, it was a successful night. My pastor sent me an email telling me what a great job I did -- a gold star, she said. But really, the best part was feeling like what I was doing was right. I am becoming more comfortable with my calling, and even though it will be a long time before I am ordained, I know there are many things I can do in the meantime to fulfill it.
Next on my agenda is planning the Easter Dawn Service. This will be the third year I have planned it. It's like my little baby now. I can be pretty creative with it, which makes it both fun and a challenge. What sorts of things do you do with your Dawn Services?
21 March 2007
Teacher, teacher!
Tonight I'm teaching at church from "This Holy Mystery", the study on Communion General Conference approved in 2004. The focus for tonight is the Great Thanksgiving in the Communion ritual.
Which is kind of ironic, because even though I am seminary-trained, I'm not actually allowed to celebrate the Great Thanksgiving. Won't be for quite awhile. But I guess I'm qualified enough to talk about it.
I applied for two more jobs today, both with agencies. I have not had good experiences with agencies in the past. Basically, they just end up interviewing me and I never hear from them again. But the two jobs were nearby and had very good salaries so I made an exception.
I got an email from one job today saying my resume had been forwarded to the hiring manager -- which is a good thing! That job would be a good job -- I have experience in the industry and if I got it my old bosses would faint knowing I was working there. I'd love it! Plus, it's a job with the opportunity for advancement. Keep your fingers crossed.
Which is kind of ironic, because even though I am seminary-trained, I'm not actually allowed to celebrate the Great Thanksgiving. Won't be for quite awhile. But I guess I'm qualified enough to talk about it.
I applied for two more jobs today, both with agencies. I have not had good experiences with agencies in the past. Basically, they just end up interviewing me and I never hear from them again. But the two jobs were nearby and had very good salaries so I made an exception.
I got an email from one job today saying my resume had been forwarded to the hiring manager -- which is a good thing! That job would be a good job -- I have experience in the industry and if I got it my old bosses would faint knowing I was working there. I'd love it! Plus, it's a job with the opportunity for advancement. Keep your fingers crossed.
19 March 2007
Welcome Back
It's been awhile since I've posted. I guess I wasn't really motivated for awhile. It feels like a good time to toe back in.
I've spending a lot of time thinking about ordination lately. I have a lot of time to think, being unemployed. For about three weeks, I kept praying that God would help me find a job. The job market here is abyssmal. I'm lucky if I find two jobs a week to apply to.
Last week I was in church and the assistant pastor was explaining that this week I'd be leading the Lenten study since she would be away on vacation. Since I joined the church, I've filled in and assisted on various occasions, including preaching. I was musing about this while she finished the announcement, thinking about the time when I would be ordained and such things would be my full-time work. And then it dawned on me that I had forgotten something very important about my vocation and calling -- my day jobs are just what I do "in the meantime". They aren't my vocation, and they aren't my calling, and here at this juncture, when I'm stepping off to to such an important phase of my journey, perhaps I was praying for the wrong thing. Perhaps I ought to focus on praying that I hear God's call in my life clearly.
So I tried that, and it has already made a difference in my thinking. Much of my anxiety about finding a job has faded, and I have found a peace that I have missed. Granted, I still need to find a job that pays my bills, but for the first time in six months I am actually feeling hope for my life.
I've spending a lot of time thinking about ordination lately. I have a lot of time to think, being unemployed. For about three weeks, I kept praying that God would help me find a job. The job market here is abyssmal. I'm lucky if I find two jobs a week to apply to.
Last week I was in church and the assistant pastor was explaining that this week I'd be leading the Lenten study since she would be away on vacation. Since I joined the church, I've filled in and assisted on various occasions, including preaching. I was musing about this while she finished the announcement, thinking about the time when I would be ordained and such things would be my full-time work. And then it dawned on me that I had forgotten something very important about my vocation and calling -- my day jobs are just what I do "in the meantime". They aren't my vocation, and they aren't my calling, and here at this juncture, when I'm stepping off to to such an important phase of my journey, perhaps I was praying for the wrong thing. Perhaps I ought to focus on praying that I hear God's call in my life clearly.
So I tried that, and it has already made a difference in my thinking. Much of my anxiety about finding a job has faded, and I have found a peace that I have missed. Granted, I still need to find a job that pays my bills, but for the first time in six months I am actually feeling hope for my life.
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