Weekly Word

Back in 2012, Bedford Presbyterian Church was in a time of transition and discernment. The Senior Pastor had left to go to another congregation and the idea of the Co-Pastor model had been approved, in theory. But, in addition to all of the conversations that took place around the type of leadership model the church would have, there was also a long season of asking questions like,

Who are we, as a congregation? What are our priorities? What are our gifts?
What are the things about us that are unique? When have we been at our best?
And, based on the answers to all-of-the-above, What is God calling us to do?

Years ago, there was a comedian named Bill Hicks who told a story about a time that he was sitting in a restaurant, reading a book at the counter.  When the waitress came up to take his order, she asked, “What are you reading for?”  Not, “what are you reading?” but “what are you reading for,” as if he needed to justify why he was reading in the first place.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed something rather alarming happening when I sit down to read….

Last week, I wrote about the speed at which the years seem to pass when it comes to raising children and serving in the church. It does seem just like yesterday when we took our now-4th-Grader to daycare for the first time. And, it seems like yesterday when I began my first official “church job” on August 22, 2001….

On the day that I am writing this, our family is marking a bit of a milestone: we now have a Fourth Grader living in our house. In truth this Fourth Grader has been living in our house for the past nine years, but he’s never been a Fourth Grader before. Last night – the night before the first day of Fourth Grade – my wife asked, “How is it that we now have a Fourth Grader?” “I don’t know,” I said. “I guess it’s true what they say (whoever “they” are) that “The days are long and the years are short.”…

The Sawyers have undertaken two different do-it-ourselves painting projects this summer.

Project One: Amy is currently hard at work, painting the cabinets in our kitchen, which have thirteen years of wear and tear (and grit and grime) on them. It’s going to look awesome!

And, Project Two: Back in late May, I took my trusty Fender Stratocaster guitar apart and set about repainting and refinishing it….

I hope that you have been having a fantastic summer! Our own family has done a little traveling and is getting ready for a “Staycation” with plenty of things to do close to home. In the Summer, our daily and weekly routines slip into a different kind of rhythm, which we welcome. We do, however, have our sights set on a return to school and the daily and weekly rhythms that will be back in place come Fall….

There are so many things that are out of our control, but sometimes we are surprised by serendipitous grace.

Over the past few weeks in worship, we have been offering special prayers for Malalai and Agashirin Safi. I have kept the prayers mostly broad – “God please be with the Safis in this difficult time. . .” – instead of getting into specifics. In truth, because of some legal and personal concerns, we want to shield the Safis by not sharing too much, even though there is plenty more that could be said (and likely will be said when the time is right)….