A Seasonal Change

I'm sitting here on Saturday doing something that I have not done in almost ten years.  I'm not in preparing--in one way or another--for worship services tomorrow.  Oh, I'm holding the church I serve in prayer, and I am excited and hopeful about services tomorrow, but I will not be in attendance.

The United Methodist Church does a wonderful thing.  It allows for new parents to take time off for the purpose welcoming a new child into a family.  In our case, this is our baby, Joy.  Susan took this time when Joy was born and now I'm taking the time allotted to me.

Lots prayerful planning and discernment--as well as the support of a fantastic congregation--has been invested to allow me to do this.

Over the next few weeks, APUMC will have some of the best preachers Georgia Methodism has to offer.  And I am excited for that fact, alone.

So you won't be seeing around the church that often, because I'm (at least for the next few weeks) a full-time Dad.  But you will be seeing me around.  Of course, you can always check this space as I'll be posting (but I don't promise my posts to not be at weird hours).

But one thing I'm already noticing about myself.  As much as I love being a Daddy and am looking forward to this season of being "at home" with Joy (something tells me I'll be doing a lot of lunch dates with Joy and her mother down at St. Paul UMC), I know that I am a pastor, too, and look forward to being in the midst of the community I've been appointed to serve.

Here's to a holy Lent, everyone.