One More Week

Note: This is what I shared at my last Presbytery meeting in February. I have one more week before retirement.

I once served a rural congregation in a town of 400 people.

I’ve served a suburban church whose members included military leaders, spies, and lots of lawyers.

I’ve been a single pastor, a married pastor, and the Pastor Mom of 3 children under the age of 4.

I’ve served two great Presbyteries through everything from lawsuits to COVID.

I’ve been asked -as the local pastor- to judge a Halloween costume contest where I was bribed by three different sets of parents who wanted their particular witch to win. I’ve bless a bar, cast out evil spirits, and been invited by three different people to cast evil spirits out of me.

I baptized someone in the Potomac River after getting an okay from the EPA. I’ve baptized newborns in NICUs- some of whom had already passed away.

I’ve officiated weddings on mountainsides, beaches, farmhouses, restaurants, museums, the National Cathedral, and the top of the George Washington Masonic Temple in Solomon’s Throne Room.

I served our denomination with my sister Denise Anderson representing the Church in 24 states and several different countries.

I’ve had the honor of being with several people when they breathed their last breath, and then witnessed their burials or the spreading their ashes everywhere from railroad tracks to Arlington National Cemetery to the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenburg.

I’ve been blessed with a huge variety of experiences, by God’s grace.

But I have never been retired.

And so I covet your prayers.

Thank you for allowing me to be the church with you.

PS – I hope to keep writing after this.