Good morning,
The community is coming together to worship this Sunday at Gibson Park. The service starts at 10:30. If it is raining, you should make the call whether to go to the park.
This was my day last Sunday….. a service where I preached. Following the morning worship, we had coffee and snacks in the gym. We went out to lunch with some people at church. After lunch, I participated in a burial. After that we went to a comedy play about golf. For supper, we celebrated with a couple who is getting married in a few weeks.
I am an introvert. I gain most of my energy being by myself. I need that time alone, in order to gain strength, wisdom and insight for my work as a pastor. Being a pastor requires me to be in the public. Whether I am in the arena, at Tim Horton’s, in church, or at a town council meeting I am engaged but I need to get away.
I have often described my experience as an introverted guy in an extroverted job/calling. It scares me still to think I get up most weeks to preach to the congregation. I can do it because for me the Bible, the text for the service, is the focus, an not me. It is the only way that I can do it every week. Thank you for allowing me to be an introvert, in an extroverted calling.
I do not know if Jesus, or Paul, or Mary or Lydia were extroverts or introverts. We are all different people anyway. Our Church Council and Elders are made up of both kinds of people, and this is a positive thing. For example, I report a lot at Elders meetings. At Council, if I say three or four things over the course of the meeting, I think I am dominating the discussion. Really.
Who are you in the mind of God? God has created you to use the gifts that God has given you. Talk, listen, listen and talk. All gifts are from God.
Shalom and strength for the journey of life and faith.
Fred