Ever wonder what the life of a solo pastor is like?
Here’s a look into my day today. While it may not be an example of my usual day, it’s definitely not unusual to have a day like this, but let me tell you about the variety of what was asked of me today. Here’s a rough idea of my schedule.
I got to the church a little before 9:00 when I usually start. I made a pot of coffee as I routinely do. Then I tried to do a quick assessment of what I needed to do today and checked my emails.
9:30 Ladies arrive at church for Moms and Tots program my wife leads. I talked with them briefly. One lady asked for a book for the Good $ense Budget Course I’m leading on Saturday. They definitely want to come. I showed her the pre-work they needed to do. She said she’d pay me on Thursday at Care Group. I lead the group that meets at her house.
9:40 Got a phone call from the editor of the community newsletter our Agricultural Society runs. I’m the president of the Ag Society. His wife, one of the ladies at the Moms and Tots program was there with her van. The February newsletters were in her van. Could I please get them to the mail so people would get their copy today. I put them in my van.
9:45 Got a call from a lady on our Ag Society Board letting me know that a sample of some community flags we had been working on was ready. I agreed to quickly come check it out.
9:50 Removed a car seat from our van that belonged to one of the Moms and Tots as Lynnette, my wife, had picked her and her two kids up in the morning.
9:55 Checked out new flag. Looks good.
10:05 Left for a meeting with the chiropractor to deal with a sore back. In the conversation the doctor asked if I was coming to the Lions dinner tonight. I’m a member of the Carseland Lions. I explained I wouldn’t be there as I had a memorial service tonight.
10:25 The chiropractor’s receptionist asked if I did Marriage counseling. She explained her kids needed help and she thought they wouldn’t go to her pastor but she thought I was down to earth and “wouldn’t just read Scripture to them”.
10:35 Grabbed a coffee and donut at Tim Hortons.
11:00 Back at the church meeting with Lana, a lady who is willing to help my plan our Family Day Celebration at the church. Discussed a few ideas and she said she would do a craft.
11:30 People began arriving to help set up the fellowship hall for the family supper being put on for the family who was having the memorial tonight. Helped out a bit with that.
11:40 The Ag Treasurer stopped by to have me sign a cheque.
11:45 Stopped at the Post Office to mail the newsletters.
12:00 Dropped off a couple of copies of the newsletters at a local coffeeshop. They had some suggestions for the Ag Society about flower pots for Communities in Bloom for the summer.
12:10 Back at the church to help finish setting up for the supper.
12:30 Home for a quick bowl of soup and then race off to the Cemetery for the placing of the urn for the family whose memorial it was.
2:00 Urn placing Ceremony
2:45 Stopped at Tim Horton’s to have a “date” with Lynnette.
3:30 Heading for home.
4:05 Lynnette dropped me at the church so I could finish the sermon for the memorial. I had some thoughts on changing what I had prepared earlier.
Our Facilities guy was in the kitchen. The pipes had frozen again. He was trying to thaw them out.
4:10 Answered some emails.
4:15 Answered a phone call regarding Ag issues about the Rec Centre and the fact that the Curling Club was going to have an oyster fry, but weren’t supposed to use the fryer and grill in the kitchen. Solved some issues and got things going.
4:30 Worked on sermon.
5:05 Finished sermon and greeted families coming to supper. Had to help set up mics and stands for two guys doing a couple of songs.
5:20 Discovered the doorknob on the front door wasn’t working. Had to find a screw driver to take the doorknob apart. Manage to fix it by just wiggling things around and replacing the doorknob.
5:30 Supper
6:30 Helped music team set up for service.
7:00 Memorial Service. It was for a one year Anniversary of a man who committed suicide and the family thought this might help them heal more. It was a good service and well attended by family, church members and community members.
8:00 Chatted with people after the service.
8:15 A man whom I had never met was introduced to me. His mom is in the hospital in Strathmore. She’s probably not coming home. Could I please go visit her tomorrow? And I heard his story of four heart surgeries in about 6 months or less.
8:40 Helped clean up from the supper.
9:10 Facilities guy asked if, in the morning, I could unplug the heater that was being used to thaw out the frozen drain pipes.
9:30 Home. Loaded the dishwasher with dishes we had loaned for the supper.
9:45 Played a round of Risk on the computer.
10:00 Told you my story.
And I’m sure I missed a few things.
The life of a solo pastor is definitely not boring.
Pastoring in a Small Town...and loving it! 