Not Prepared Yet!
27 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in Random Ramblings of a Striking Diva Tags: anxious, church, photographer, photography, portraits
My Pastor got wind that I am a photographer. But really….I’m not. I like taking pictures. I think I have a little artistic ability but am I a photographer? Nope. I take a lot of pictures and once in a while I get lucky and get a winner. Ok, so I get a few winners. And I’m handy with Photoshop.
So anyway – I got an email a couple months back asking if I would be willing to take staff portraits and the Christmas Card photo. I was flattered! And a little wigged out, too. I am an anxious sort – and the pressure of taking photos that will hang in the foyer of our church….wow. But I said that I would try and would love to do it.
And then.
Nothing.
No follow up. No word. And I heard another guy in the church had volunteered to be the “Church Photographer”. So I started to think that maybe I was not going to be doing this. And ok, so I was a little relieved but then felt a teensie weensie bit of jealousy. If he has photog skills then he should do it while I ‘hone my craft’. But I was a little excited about the prospect…. Did I mention I’m an Anxious Annie?
So last week the church secretary emails me and tells me she wants to schedule the photo day and it’s in two weeks and if I’m willing we’ll get this thing done. So….I said “Sure! Can we please use a room with natural light….thanks!” Yep, sounding all kinds of professional – little does she know I’m freaking out here!!!!!!!
So. In a week and a half I will do my first portrait session with 6 couples (and their kids) and a group shot of all the staff. I really want to do a good job but I’m scared that I’m not good enough. But I am going to do it. I think. Unless I come down with a horrible communicable disease. It could happen. But until that time, I’m reading everything I can get my hands on trying to get ready. I’m not prepared yet, but I’m willing. And really….I’m excited! Cross your fingers for me!
Changing Churches
12 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in 1 Tags: changing churches, church, new church, pastors
After six months of attending a church here, we decided it was not a good fit for us and decided to leave. It was very hard…I struggled a LOT with the decision, my husband and I prayed and talked at length for many hours. I cried a lot. I felt sadness, disappointment, and a sense of failure – that I wanted so badly to stick it out and be a part of this church and make it better. But the leadership that was in place was not right. I knew in my heart that the pastor was not the person I wanted to lead our family in our Christian walk.
We did not speak ill of the pastor. We did not discuss our decision to leave with anyone at the church because we didn’t want to create any discord. We were so mindful of that, we didn’t want to upset the balance that was there. It was a personal choice. We felt we owed it to the pastor to let him know that we would be attending another church and he was … less than happy. He wanted an explanation. We agreed to meet and talk. We knew it would not be received well. In the end I left it up to my husband to have that hard discussion with the Pastor. My husband shared his thoughts honestly and without putting a happy face on it. The Pastor had said things during his Christian Ed class that were offensive. We felt he did not have a heart for the lost. He became very political and pushed a political agenda during a time when we wanted to learn about the bible and the love of Jesus.
Later we learned that he went back to church and talked about our decision with other members of our group. He said we had taken his words out of context and just walked away. Later on I saw him at the store and he rolled his eyes at me and my little daughter asked me why he looked so mad. I smiled and said hello – he was not so cordial. And it just solidified the fact that he was NOT who we wanted to lead our Christian walk. He was a grown man that was pouting because someone was brave enough to say “I don’t agree with you.”
Since we have left the church we’ve had some other interactions with the pastor and he continues to show his lack of compassion. We are not perfect, but I have a heart for the lost. They are the ones who need to be loved the most.
Our new church is amazing. Our new pastor has the love of Jesus all over him! I would trust him implicitly, he adores and honors his wife and children, he has a heart for the lost, he speaks kindly of everyone and his closest friends have amazing ministries that help immigrants, addicts…you name it. We are sooooo blessed to have this new church. We are so glad we are being filled and being lead by someone that we can respect and trust.
God is on the throne – and He is good all the time.
Moving to Wyoming & Moving In
06 Aug 2008 Leave a Comment
in My Striking Life, Random Ramblings of a Striking Diva Tags: church, happy, moving, UHaul, unpacking
I drove to Wyoming in one straight shot – 20 hours. By the end of that drive I was completely sleep deprived, overdosed on caffeine, and even when I was standing still I was shaky and TIRED. I checked into a hotel the first night and the following morning my husband arrived with his brother and our UHaul truck.
I went to church Sunday morning and was greeted so warmly! The pastor announced our arrival and asked for volunteers to come and unload our Uhaul. Seven people showed up! We unpacked the truck in an hour and then people stuck around for another two hours talking, laughing and just getting to know eachother. We have made some new friends and we’re so happy… I am really going to lean on that church.
Our New Church
16 Jul 2008 Leave a Comment
in My Striking Life Tags: church, fellowship
When we got to Laramie, the first thing we wanted to do was go to the church. And as we walked in we were greeted so warmly! The pastor, his wife, the youth pastor – they all got so excited when they saw us and they even knew us by name! It was wonderful, such a great great welcome.
I realized that I had been to the church twice before, decided it was going to be our home church, but had not yet heard the pastor preach. The first time it was a guest pastor (the pastor’s Father in Law), and then the next time it was Christmas and it was a Christmas pageant. So I was hoping I would not be disappointed. And I wasn’t. It was a great service, there was even an altar call and Murray and I asked for prayer for our trip.
A couple from the church invited us to dinner – which we accepted (but later had to decline because we decided to cut our trip short). We were also made aware of their Wednesday Night Christian Education services. This church provides dinner (donation optional) and has classes by age group. We went to that and it was great. Our church doesn’t do that and I really wish it did. It was so nice. We feel so at home. And the amount of fellowship that this small church has been able to put together is wonderful.
I do still love our church here in Washington – it’s amazing and we love every person in it. Our children have been loved by the children’s staff and we have been supported by friends and pastoral staff alike. I’m going to miss it. I’m really going to cry the day we say goodbye. But we’ll all be together again someday, right?
