Well, it’s Saturday morning here in Wake Forest, and we’ve been welcomed into the weekend with a beautiful, cool, morning and coffee on the deck. We’re still working on the house, settling in, and full with anticipation for our first Sunday at WFPC.

As I write, Rebekah is potting some plants. We’re not sure what the gardening will look like, but we do know this place is going to be beautiful after lots of hard work, a little trial and error, undaunted faithful belief, visioning, and patience…

CHURCH & VISION: There have been a couple of articles in the paper referencing Rebekah’s arrival (here’s one example), and she’s been welcomed in many ways, all week long.

Monday Rebekah spent all day meeting with people, Tuesday she had her first staff meeting (and I treated them all to lunch), Wednesday was all about people again, then Thursday and Friday involved more of the same. She’s also had a chance to meet with the deacons, the finance team, many of the elders, lots of volunteers, and a couple of area clergy.

In consequence Rebekah has had the opportunity to begin to lay out her vision, which is the simple yet foundational idea:

• that every single detail of church life – from cutting the grass, to singing hymns, to paying bills, to Bible study, to working with children and youth, to helping people in need – must be understood in terms of ministry;
• that absolutely everything that happens at WFPC has the opportunity to become a response to our deepening relationship to God through Jesus;
• that we are called to be followers of the Living Way of Jesus and not simply members of a church….

HOME: Like I’ve been sharing all week, we’re putting the pieces together at home, and we’re almost at a point where I can share a few pictures.

So here’s just one more glimpse, it’s the entry into the living room from the foyer. I really like the long windows. Not only can Scout see out (she loves to watch the world outside) but the windows let beautiful light stream in. We’re in a heavily wooded lot, so we need all the light we can get.

Yesterday I finally got the sound system hooked up. It’s great to have music in the house again. I christened the new set-up (we may have a new music cabinet, but we’re still using our 1980 equipment…) with the classic STING album, “Mercury Falling;” I soon discovered that rock-and-roll has no trouble floating upstairs in a two-story house!

CONTENTMENT: For me, contentment is all about building a life together with Rebekah. I believe we’re at the point now, in our new house, where we’re feeling more moved in than transitional. It’s good to wake up in the morning and know that we’re home together.

Please pray that we feel the same way tomorrow morning when we walk into church. We understand that this is the beginning of a process, and that, like the garden, even though we’re not sure exactly what WFPC will look like, we do know this place is going to be beautiful after lots of hard work, a little trial and error, undaunted faithful belief, visioning, and patience.

In hope, and belief, and the assurance of promise – DEREK