I
have accepted a call . . .
With
those words I notified the Vestry on August 11, 2016 that I would be
leaving the parish at the end of September and begin serving the
parish of St. John's on November 1. On August 12, the official
notice was broadly distributed to both parishes.
It
was on August 2 or 3 in which I had a conversation with David Davis
following up on my visit to Hagerstown. my wife and I had plenty of
time to talk it over (being stuck at BWI helped), and came to the
conclusion that this was the place. It was during that phone call
where I accepted the offer to become the next rector of St. John's.
And knowing how things happen, I asked that we keep silent and
coordinate our announcement until August 12, allowing me to notify my
Vestry first.
The
time frame on my arrival in Hagerstown was presented as, “How soon
can you get here?” But she had a diocesan D.O.K. meeting to
coordinate, and I was in the middle of overseeing a somewhat major
construction project that raised the chancel floor, moved the altar
forward, and sent the choir behind the altar. Add to that the issue
of finding a place to live and being able to see friends, family (and
the Pacific Ocean) one last time before heading east – and that's
how we settled on a November 1 start date.
With
the help of several friends, we got packed up and planned the trip.
I worked the first half of the football season before saying goodbye
to that amazing group of men. Movers were selected, a car was
shipped, and the great western farewell tour was underway. Stops in
Seaside/Cannon Beach and Portland, OR; Olympia, Puyallup-ish,
Wenatchee, and Spokane, WA; Sheridan and Bozeman, MT; Rapid City and
Sioux Falls, ND; Someplace in MN; Chicago-land, IL; Detroit-area, MI;
Canton, OH; and finally Hagerstown were on the itinerary. All along
the way we saw friends and family and a few unexpected sights.
Many
of you have heard this story before. Some have heard bits and pieces
of it. I apologize if I'm repeating myself.
But
the reason I'm making this the topic of today's Wednesday Word is
that I looked at the calendar last week and realized that it was just
about a year ago when the official announcement was made, and it
seemed appropriate to recognize that.
My
family and I have been here not quite a year. In that time we have
felt welcomed and loved. Yes, there have been a few moments of
difficulty, but there has never been a time when we think we made the
wrong decision. As I look back on this past year, and as I reflect
and write this edition of the Wednesday Word, the word of the day is
. . . joy. That one small word expresses exactly what it
means to be here. I hope you find this place to be as joy-filled as
we have.
Blessings
An welcome home!
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