I enjoy that fact that really no two days of my life are the same. Sure I can do a lot of the same things but there is never anything that is exactly the same. I enjoy the challenge of thinking about scripture and discovering how I will preach. I love the exploration of Theology and Church ADMINistry. But, I am realizing that I need to take some time to reset myself.
In just over a week. I will be celebrating 3 years in my current call as Minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Missoula. It seems crazy that it has been almost 3 years but also feels like it has been much longer (though I guess I have been around here for a while haha). Though, in all seriousness, I have been overdoing it a bit. I do a lot of things for both the local congregation and the regional church, it is part of the work of our covenantal relationship, but the other day in worship, someone mentioned they liked the system where 'Pastor Mat does everything.' Now, I by no means do everything in the life of this Church, but that comment made me think that I have been doing too much. The way in which a church such as ours works is through congregational leadership, it is a congregation centric model. But if the pastor is in Charge of too much, then if something happens (Pastor is sick or leaves or what have you) then all of these things come to a halt.
So, as I am thinking about the next year of my ministry at FCC Missoula and the congregations 140th anniversary in 2025, I am realizing that I need to renew myself for my call and we as a congregation need a renewal. Now, the congregation is doing some great things, we are active in Missoula and there is beautiful work being done here, but there comes a time when we need to look at and make plans for our future. I have ideas and resources for helping us move forward, but this work cannot be done by me alone (and I must remember that). We as a congregation should take the next year to think about who God is calling us to be in the Missoula Community, and then do the work to make it so.
I know that God has plans for FCC Missoula, and I intend to do what I can to help, and part of this is going to be making sure I am taking care of myself physically, mentally and spiritually. There is work to be done, but if we are going to do it, let us do it right. I look forward to the years to come and I hope and plan to keep going on this blog and on social media to better connect with others.
In Christ's Love,
Mat G.
Minister
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