Summers are supposed to be calm and pleasant, OK, maybe a little sunburn but certainly nothing more extreme than that. I believe that if I find the Summer Complaint Department I will have some words for them that a congregation should not hear from its pastor. Thankfully, most everything is turning out well, but ….

As many of you know, I had been having some soreness in my back. The plan was that I would have a little surgery, perhaps a stitch or two, and that would be that. That may have been the plan, but once my excellent doctors got a better look in there, it turned out that a little more work was needed that we expected.

But let me not talk about that any more than I already have. Let me, instead, talk about all that I have learned. I have learned so much about the kindness and the healing power of congregations, their thoughtfulness and their depth. I suspect that there is a conspiracy at work but I can’t recall a day that I didn’t get a card from either a member, or a friend, or a colleague. We’ve begun entertaining in small groups and it has been such lovely gift to have people over just to hear about their plans and their adventures. My announcement in the Weekly read as follows:

Pastor Greg and Linda are so grateful for the gifts and cards and good wishes that have graced his recovery and her spirits (on those rare days that he is a less than cooperative patient!) We are pleased to entertain visitors, especially on Sunday afternoons, after (we assume) you’ve attended church. Please call ahead so we can be sure that Pastor has taken his medications.

If truth be told, the Pastor has not always been a cooperative patient and I am so very grateful to Linda for her consistent good humor (and periodic lapses in hearing). Thank you, too, for continuing to attend church and for your kind words to me about how well Pastor Wendy has been doing – I do intend to return eventually, you know!

On a serious note, I have learned so much about chronic pain, things that many of you have far more experience of than I do. My very dear friends for whom life is a daily battle, please know how closely I hold you in my heart.

AND AS IF THAT ALL WEREN’T ENOUGH, toward the end of August we got the news that Melissa Stuart was offered and had accepted a position in Calvert County’s school system. Melissa has been hoping for a chance to get into teaching for many years (before I got here for those of you who are counting!), and even though Pr. Wendy and I will miss her very much, it is impossible to love Melissa as much as we all do and not wish well for her.

There are two bits of good news. First, Melissa will be right across the street at Plum Point Elementary so maybe we’ll get a chance to share lunch once in a while. The second, and even better bit of good news, is that Anna Kitzmiller has agreed to accept the position of Office Administrator on a permanent basis. Anna was the strongest of a very strong set of applicants and Pr. Wendy and I can’t wait to get started with the new school year. We will miss Melissa very much, but God has graced us yet again that Anna has agreed to step into this critical ministry position. I’m sure you will all discover, as we have already, Anna’s warmth, humor and love of Christ.

It’s hard to imagine being glad that summer is over, but believe me, I am. I’m looking forward to seeing you all soon for Rally Day, the beginning of the construction of the North Wing, and all of the great things that God has in store for us. As we said at VBS, GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME: ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD!

Pastor Greg