From the Desk of the Pastor

This June is turning into one of the busiest months I’ve had in some time. Annual Conference was a welcome part of that and a chance to reconnect with some old friends and spend time with our delegation. I thoroughly enjoyed having lunches and dinner with Bill and Winston.

During our time in Hot Springs, we had dinner with three of my dearest friends, Paul Seay, Ed Seay, and John Fleming. Paul retired this year, and we wanted to celebrate with him. Ed arranged for a reservation at Bones Chop House, and it proved to be a stellar dining experience. Good company, a friendly atmosphere, good waitstaff, and an excellent, well-rounded dining experience.

Because Penny and I were planning to stay on for a few days following the Conference, I asked Bill to preach on June 6, and he did an exceptional job. His willingness to serve enabled Penny and me to get a bit of rest and see some friends and family we have missed during Covid. That Friday, we had dinner with Penny’s sister, who we hadn’t seen in two years. Saturday, we had breakfast with two of our oldest friends, who happen to live in Hot Springs. Of course, none of this would have been possible without Bill’s agreeing to preach.

In late May, I had a call from an old friend in Berryville telling us about wedding plans and asking me to do her wedding. This sort of occasion requires a good deal of logistic planning. First, I needed to get the permission of my DS and the DS in the Northwest District. Second, it is good form to ask the pastor of charge for their permission to perform the ceremony. Third, I need a person to speak in my absence. This coming week our Lay Leader, Scott Russell, agreed to preach, and I know he will do a super job.

Because of two hurricanes, the church faced a complex set of challenges surrounding filing a claim, taking bids, and securing contractors for our roof damage. Terry and Lisa Fuller have been super helpful. There is no way we would be this far down the road without solid leadership.

Nina Guest is one of the best administrative assistants that I have been privileged to work with. She is always busily doing something to keep the train on the tracks, keep the pastor on task, and make sure that nothing slips through the cracks. Nina is fantastic, and so is Shelton, both of them working tirelessly behind the scenes.

Barbi Washburn is a steady presence who never fails to use her gifts with children to nurture our littles in their faith. In addition, she is always looking for ways to involve the church in the broader community. In tandem with Beth Schaffhauser, the dynamic duo do a fantastic job coordinating the Open Door Food Pantry.

Lexa has also faced its share of challenges over the last twelve months. Whenever there is a problem or concern, I can depend on David Tredaway to be on point. He assists the pastor with facility concerns and makes sure that I am abreast of local happenings in the community.

The truth is that there are so many people who are actively engaged that this one-page letter is wholly insufficient to list them all. To all of you who volunteer, teach, lead worship, and serve the broader community in countless ways, I commend you. Each of you is vitally important to the work and ministry of Christ in this community and beyond.

Being a pastor is a tough job. But, it is also very challenging and rewarding. But the truth is that you all know how to be the body of Christ. When the going gets tough, we get by with a little help from our friends.