| | The Beggining of the End
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord" Job, i. 21
"All things are in the hands of God, have Him for their
Author, are directed and governed by Him to such ends
as are most suitable to His wise providence.
Whoever murmurs at the course of the world, murmurs
at God who governs the course of the world."
(William Law)
___________________________________________________________________
This has been an eventful week in more than one way. The primary subject on my mind at this time has been my little church in the woods. As you remember the budget for the church was nearly gone when I got there and all the new additions (hymnals, sunday school curriculum, library, drapes, furnishings, fragrant candles, audio library, floral arangements, weekly cakes and cookies etc.) I brought in were a product of outside support from friends and generous people in Garland and White Rock.
Unfortunately, even managing to not touch the church budget the entire time I've been there hasn't prevented it from dwindling down even further. Local squirels have "vandalized" our heater twice, we now have a leaky pipe in the bathroom, a window was broken this week (it broke from the inside of the building while it was closed and locked and items inside the old church have a habit of moving or disapearing completely) and parts of the exterior regularly manage to fall off from the winds and shifting dry soil.
Much to my dismay, the pastor of our sponsoring church met with me and said they were cutting off our funding in April, which will result in the closing of our doors after 120 years in the White Rock Community. I asked if he could give my church more than $100 a month until we had enough people to sustain the budget more adequately but the church declined. I'll be contacting the local association and the state convention tommorow in hopes of getting enough funding to sustain the budget till we can get our strength up. Considering there was only 2 people there when I was called and we've grown to five I see potential, but I'm not sure if that will make a difference. Keep White Rock in your prayers, 3 of our 5 have been out of church for a long time and I worry about what will happen if we close our doors. I've really grown attached to them these past 8 months.
I was a bit numb after the first hour after hearing it, but I've now got that feeling in the pit of my stomach. Still I managed well. No show of emotion whatsoever, dad would be proud! I'm a bit nervous about unemployment as well. Between my car payments, health insurance, seminary and such things, I dread the down time. I've had to work odd jobs and seasonal labor to make ends meat as it is. Don't forget to pray for me too!
I'll be announcing the pending closure this Sunday before the congregation. Many of them grew up in this church or have had as much as three generations faithfully involved.
Two and a half months remain. We'll see what Providence provides.
His will be done,
C.H.B. |
| | Posted 1/9/2006 9:25 PM - 29 Views - 11 eProps - 15 comments
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