Last night was Session night at St. Stoic Near The Lake. Actually, it was Personnel meeting THEN Session night. That little detail is important. Having a Personnel committee is a big deal around here. Why? Because for a long time there was no such creature.

For a long time, there weren't a lot of things that there now *are*.

I wasn't really aware of what I was getting myself into when I accepted God's call to this little church. Granted--none of us ever do, but I really bit off a big ol' hunk of surprise with this congregation.

I have hinted here and elsewhere that this church was kind of...unique. And not in that way that I mean when I tease WG,"You're unique, honey--just like everybody else!" I mean, this church has a unique history. It used to be part of a six-point parish that shared clergy, office support, financial support, office space, youth leadership, church musicians, etc.,

For a long time there was no pastor's study, there was no church photocopier, there were no church computers, heck, there wasn't even a church stapler! All the things most churches take for granted were taken care of off-site.

But now I'm here, and those other things are too. It's tempting to say that now that those other things are part of St. Stoic, St. Stoic is a better place. But you know and I know that the Church goes on in every age, no matter what "stuff" is involved. And the faithful people of St. Stoic did just fine for the first 162 years without a lot of that stuff, (and without me) thankyouverymuch.

And you know and I know that with all this change comes anxiety, and old wounds get the dressing ripped off, and it hurts like hell, and even though you think the air will speed healing, it still hurts like hell.

But...we've got a Personnel committee.

And a full time pastor, with a beautiful, inviting study, and an office administrator, and a copier, and fancy letterhead, and networked computers, and the internets, and we're doing some things that our denomination asks us to do ("shall language") that haven't been done in a while, and I think that despite all this, the Gospel still rings true at beautiful little St. Stoic.

Thanks be to God!