It's Only Wednesday.

"I don't have Vodka, but I do have dark chocolate M&M's." - Jan

This has been a crazy week. And it's only Wednesday.

It started with my first worship service at Grace, which I survived, always a good thing. Thanks for everyone who joined us for worship-- 175 in attendance on a holiday weekend! The sermon was not recorded, but I plan to transcribe it from memory as best I can remember and post it here tomorrow.

On Monday, we had a great Fourth of July with other pastors and their families: The Dowds and Parsons of 1st UMC Sherman, and the Murphys of Waples UMC in Denison- it was almost a Northwest District meeting!

Tuesday was my first full day in the office, and it began in the lousiest way: I could not find my keys. Christy drove me to church, for a meeting, the first of six, and I walked home for lunch. I found my keys, and used them to purchase a computer- shopping always makes me feel better! So after six one-to-one meetings with wonderful people, the stress of losing keys, I was utterly exhausted.

Today has been spent negotiating with home telephone and wifi services and attempting to update the church's website (gracesherman.org). Tomorrow will feature staff meeting and lunch and sermon prep. I will spend part of Friday at the Allen house mowing and cleaning out the garage before closing next Monday-- after 50 days on the market, 90 showings, and two open houses.. YAY!!

Sunday's sermon, "A Measured Life," will continue our "Living a Jesus Life" sermon series, based on teachings of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. We'll focus on the Good Samaritan, plus the wonderful plumb line metaphor from the prophet Amos. Here's an outline of the series, which runs all the way through August:

July 3 2 Kings 5:1-14, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
July 10 Amos 7:7-17, Luke 10: 25-37
July 17 Amos 8:4-12, Luke 10:38-42
July 24 Colossians 2:6-19, Luke 11:1-13
July 31 Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21
August 7 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 (Pastor Leon preaching)
August 14 Hebrews 11:29-12:2, Luke 12:49-56
August 21 Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 13:10-17
August 28 Henrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14

Next week is Vacation Bible School. The week after that I will be with Miles and Linus at Bridgeport. Things are 98% unpacked at the parsonage and office, including the Pez collection, but still nothing on any walls. We are creeping to normal.

Saturday night several Grace folk gathered on the church lawn to watch the fireworks- the park is only half a mile away. Someone said to me, "I'll be praying for you tomorrow, pastor." I said, "Tonight would help too!" Thank you to everyone in both Collin and Grayson counties, and elsewhere, for your prayers during this transition. Keep them coming! Ir helps! Now home for pizza and The Flash on Netflix with the family!

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