I do need to step back a bit and mention the Saturday afternoon glass of wine. It was really to pick up jewelry which I’d purchased at the party mentioned in an earlier post to this blog. Yes there was a glass of wine, and there was food, and (exercising great will-power) I did not succumb to a chocolate cupcake/muffiny-type thing. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) coffee with a couple of shots of something and some whipped cream is also served. Can’t pass that up, even on a Saturday afternoon. Then of course, I need to find my way home and somehow scrape together a sermon. There are those weeks when the sermon writes itself, and other weeks when one has to wring the text like a wet towel to get every drop out of it. A comment and a poem from a colleague on the Midrash discussion list throws all the various bits into focus....whew!
After Sunday service, there is a meeting of the Ministry Personnel Committee. I'd asked to get together so that we would have some understanding of my proposed vacation and study leave for this year. In The United Church of Canada, each congregation is required to have a small group of people called a Ministry Personnel Committee, who act as liaison between congregation and staff. Each year they meet at least once with each staff to air concerns, check how things are going, and they generally field concerns from the congregation. It’s an excellent system because it provides a place where both can express themselves safely. Early on when this system was first put in place, there were some clergy who were offended and intimidated by having such a group “checking up on them” (which is not what it is.). Personally, while clergy are accountable to their Presbyteries (in my case the District) I believe they are also clearly accountable in some respects to their congregations - that is, clarity about expectations, vacations, study times, use of work time. I would not be without an M&P Committee, and if I found a congregation which didn’t have one I’d be insisting they do. It’s in everyone’s best interest in the pastoral relationship.
One of the reasons I am quite happy to have such a group is when there are questions about what the minister does other than Sunday. The clear majority of people do appreciate how busy clergy are, and will bend over backwards trying to ensure their minister doesn’t knock herself out. Yet there are also still those who think clergy only work for a couple of hours on the weekend, and object to study leaves or vacations. In my case, even before the interview for this position, I stated up front that my husband and I had made plans two years ago, for the month of April, - a big wedding anniversary - plans which I wasn’t prepared to change. I am sure that most will understand, but there will be some who don’t - and that’s where the M&P Committee comes in....they kind of run interference.
Meeting over, we all convene at Tim Horton’s for lunch...that’s the Sunday routine!!!! By the time I return it’s late enough in the afternoon that I collapse on the sofa with the fireplace turned on, read, and play on Facebook.
The snow-shovellers have returned. I am able to get the message through that I really need to get out for the funeral Monday - and in no time there they are and the drive is cleared. Early to bed and some reading, and then comfortably off to sleep, planning to sleep in. UNTIL someone calls at 3:15 am to book a room at the Holiday Inn. Umm, no sir, you don’t have the Holiday Inn reservation line, you have a private residence. Did I *answer* Holiday Inn??? NOW try getting back to sleep.....
Monday morning looks pretty good, nice and clear, no more snow - until (of course) around noon. Then the snow comes down, the wind comes up, and lickety split the driveway is filling and the sidewalk path has disappeared. Oh boy...well, I can flounder through knee-high snow to the car. I have to digress here and tell you I am getting really good at this whipping out of a snow-filled drive, and backing in over the crud from the plow. Not only that but backing in without hitting the snowbanks on either side! So, out we go from the drive over about eight inches of snow. Streets are greasy and slick, and the plow has not been around yet, which is really weird, come to think of it. I creep down the hill in second gear, going about 35. Behind me is a rather impatient person in a pickup, who wants to whiz downhill at 60. Sorry, fella, but if you’re going all the way down the hill you’re stuck behind me to the bottom....I am NOT speeding up. On one of the downtown streets, another impatient person in a Jeep whips out from behind the plow, right in my path. Does HE get my horn.....
One of the vagaries of the weather in Corner Brook, as I’ve mentioned, is how it changes from one side to the other. On my side (snow belt) is blizzard conditions and a good pile of squelchy, sandy, salty stuff all the way down. I swear they use enough sand on the roads to make a whole beach somewhere. I bet if they filtered out all the salt and stuff, they really could make a beach down by, say, the cruise ship dock. (Oh yeah!) Downtown is close to blizzard conditions, but up by the church the air is clear and there’s only about an inch of snow. BUT (wait for it) I have to get up the hill to the church parking lot. I see the opening, step on the gas, swing hard over to the right, and up we go - barely. I don’t think I left too much rubber on the tarmac!
The memorial service is small, but intimate. I was surprised that the burial would go ahead, but am informed it’s rare that they don’t. It is snowy and windy up in the cemetery, and I am glad for the extra layers under my coat and robe, but my legs are cold. Note to self: a trip to Mark’s Work Wearhouse for thermal long-johns.
...and I learn something really new and exciting today. In March two oil rigs from the Atlantic side will be here in Corner Brook for a refit. It’s the best port to do it in. There will definitely be pics of THAT to post.
Well, here it is Saturday and I haven’t written anything here since Tuesday. Tuesday. Right. Remember last blog someone called the church in the evening to make an appointment? I wrote it down in my book for Wednesday morning. At that time I was assuming Monday would be a day off. When Monday also had a memorial service, I decided to take Tuesday off. Until at 10 am the phone rang to say my appointment was there. I dive into my clothes, throw on makeup, and dash out the door - and since I was at the office anyway figured I might as well stay on and work a bit. In the afternoon I decide to brave the blowing snow, and go across town to Mark’s Work Wearhouse. Not only do I find those nice warm thermal long undies, I find a couple of sweaters, warm fleece jammies, and a nice white tailored blouse - oh yes, and new gloves. They have a clearance sale on.....
Wednesday dawns clear but there have been predictions of a big storm - this time it by-passes us, and by the time the Board meeting rolls around in the evening, it’s clear and beautiful....and COLD. On with the long undies....and let me tell you, does that make a whole heck of a difference. Never going to be without them again! Nevertheless, even though we didn’t get the predicted storm, we got the usual Corner Brook accumulation - as seen in the pics.
Thursday on the way to the office, I go to the Motor Vehicles office and get my Newfoundland driver’s licence and plates. Woo hoo!!! We have a by-election here on February 15, and I plan to vote. Now I can legally do that! Next step, insurance - but Motor Vehicles tells me that my current insurance will cover me in the interim. The licence is $140 - which seems steep, until you realise it’s good for five years before it has to be renewed.
From work I just have time to gas up the car and grab a sandwich at the gas bar, and dash up the hill to the Pepsi Centre to have an afternoon walk. We do just under an hour, which worked out to something like 6 km - and I didn’t feel it nearly as much as the last time.
Thursday evening we have a Session meeting. This one is interesting, because instead of the normal fast one-hour meeting, we get into a really good discussion about theological language in worship. There are clearly some very different points of view, but people are polite and respectful with each other. It highlights that maybe there is some work to do here in bible study. Not the usual kind, but something more in-depth. It is really good when people are able to express different opinions but maintain respect and care while they do it.
Friday afternoon as I come home, the landlord is up on the garage roof removing about three feet of snow. Darn! I *was* going to get a photo of the snow sliding over the edge. Oh well, maybe you can see it behind the car in the murky photo I took.
So we come to Saturday - sitting with the sunshine coming in thro
ugh the window, a beautiful bright day. I am about to start the sermon, and am watching one of my favourite movies - A Prairie Home Companion, with Garrison Keillor, Meryl Streep, and Lily Tomlin.Ice is forming on the bay, with snow on top. The ferry service to Labrador has begun....will try to get some photos of that for next week. Time is really flying!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCGS_Henry_Larsen
...and so ends Week 11.
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