New Beginnings

Today, our new senior pastor preached his first sermon. I had a feeling, since he’s from SC originally, he’d remind me of my father. He did! Listening to that voice wasn’t a stretch. He’s a good speaker, avuncular, I think he’ll make some people happy.

Of course, since it was his first day, we had a pretty full house at the services. That’s good…and yet, I was a bit cranky. You see, a chunk of those folks filling the pews were returnees–members who bailed when things got tough, when the interim stretched longer than we thought, who basically took their toys and went home until things suited them.

I’m torn. On the one hand, I know I should probably be all “prodigal son” and kill the fatted calf and celebrate their return, but on the other hand, I want to ask them in a really loud voice WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? The church still needed people. The missions the church supports could have used their hands. The work goes on whether you’re having a hissy fit or not. DH and I could really have stalked off with a clear conscience, considering that we were good friends with our former pastor and his wife (who some of the returnees treated horribly), but we stuck it out. We were invested in the church, you see, not worshiping the pastor.

Let’s hope the new guy gets a better deal than the old guy. The way we treated him wouldn’t meet many good definitions of “Christian.”