So, here I am after finishing my first 3 months as a Pastor at Matheson. I’m loving it.
After so many years of having to provide weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on all sorts of things (not to mention ad-hoc analysis or even hour-by-hour updates in crises), it’s odd not to have to do so.
That said, it’s still very helpful to take stock and see what’s going on.
1. I’ve enjoyed preaching through the end of Ezekiel and starting a new series in Judges on Sunday mornings.
2. I’ve also enjoyed 1 Thessalonians on Sunday evenings, particularly when we followed up with further discussion in the Monday night Bible studies.
3. Prayer meetings aren’t as well attended as I’d like (as most churches!) but are otherwise encouraging and loving. Prayer will be a big focus in early 2012.
4. Toddlers and Searchers are brilliant, and we need to think about having something in place for the older children too. More to come!
5. The Carol Service is coming up and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a very special all-age service, and I’ve enjoyed them too!
6. January’s Christianity Explored already has one name on the list, and I’m hoping for a good number more.
7. Studies at the college are going very well indeed and there’s a direct link between some of the material there and my Sunday preaching, which is perfect.
8. I have most of 2012’s regular stuff planned out though there’s much to be done to flesh out detail.
9. The deacons meetings have been very helpful and conducted in a co-operative, forward-looking spirit, and we’ll have a members meeting in the near future too.
10. I’ve visited a number of people in the fellowship, though not as many as I’d have hoped by now. This is something I’ll need to be better at in 2012!
All in all, an encouraging start and one I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.
