Building a House

If you have ever remodeled a house or built from scratch, you know there comes a time when the house seems almost finished, almost ready for occupancy, almost a home – but not quite. Search and Call is at that stage. We have been making telephone interviews both with candidates and references, and have been requesting follow-up materials from various sources. We have had in-depth discussions and on-going discernment over congregational needs for administration, pastoral care and church growth. But like the house which still needs electrical work, painting, appliances, etc., our process to find the right fit for our church continues.

To complicate matters, Lent is a difficult time for pastors to break away from their churches to meet with us. In fact, we all agree that we would not want to call a pastor who is willing to get away from their own congregation during Lent to meet with a search committee. So our earliest opportunity to begin meeting with our top choices will probably be after Easter.

But through it all, the whole committee feels the Creative and Still-Speaking Spirit of God at work. More that a few times, the right news or contact has come to us just when we needed it. The right perception has come in a way we could hear it. Or the right committee member has voiced a concern in the way we all understood.

We continue to appreciate your prayers, support and comments. And the dinners. Thank you to the Craswells, Kathy Scodeller, and others who have made meals for us as we meet from 5:30 to at least 7:30 each Tuesday.

And thank you to our spouses who have to hear us say, “Sorry we can’t tell you about that part. It’s still confidential.”
Joyfully written by David Fayram