Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Talk with the Preacher

Future

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 8:59 pm   by Amy Butler

Future 2015-10-14T20:59:16-04:00 Amy Butler

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Calvary is a congregation in transition. That means, as the years have gone by, Calvary’s young families have gradually transitioned from that phase of life to middle age and on to, shall we say, the later years of life. While this faithful group of folks in the later years of life continues to worship and serve in ways that often astound me, to their great relief there is now a new group of folks a little behind on the path of life bringing up the rear, planning for the future.

(Crude and tactless translation: there used to be only a lot of old people at Calvary and now there are increasingly more younger people in the mix.)

Each group brings its own gifts to the community; I’m grateful for the whole big diversity of folks who make up our church family. But I’ve noticed that, with the transition of ages in our church, my pastoral duties have begun to change.

I realized this Sunday as I visited our newest little church family member, Renzo, who was born just last week. He and Mom Jillian are doing great. I personally thought it was such a coup for me to spend an afternoon sitting on the couch in a puddle of sunshine holding a sleeping baby close and being able to honestly report that I spent the afternoon “working”!

Little Renzo is going to rock his Mom’s world–he’s already working on that–but I think his birth is really the symbol of a new day for Calvary. His birth marks a significant shift, one where the pastor doesn’t just hang out at nursing homes anymore, she also gets to spend moments holding brand new babies.

Welcome to the world, Renzo, and most of all, welcome to your church family. There are many of us “older folks” already lining up to get our turns holding you. By coming to our church family you’re insured a whole bunch of extra grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles (and pastors) . . . who will hold you and love you and teach you about a God who loves you, too.

Yes, we’re all glad you’re here, you see, because you are our future.

Answering the Call

Being the Church

Previous Post



January 23, 2006

Fish and Fire: The Gospel and Casanova

Next Post



January 26, 2006 A Tale of Woe


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Answering the Call Being the Church Curating Wisdom Laughing Out Loud Living in Relationship Practicing Discipleship Reclaiming Baptist Speaking from the Pulpit Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005


Search for:

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta

Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the name "Samuel" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

God is my judge Chosen one The Lord saves God has heard

Related posts from Talk with the Preacher

Progressive Christian

Learning Leadership: A Pilgrimage to Hawaii

Talk with the Preacher

Progressive Christian

A Prayer for the Living of These Days

Talk with the Preacher

Progressive Christian

Sabbath as Relationship

Talk with the Preacher

Progressive Christian

#HolyWomenHolyLand: Women Wage Peace

Talk with the Preacher

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian

Why Christians Have a Sacred Duty to Vote:...

The Bible offers strong support for the sacred duty to vote. Here...

What Being a Modern-Day Apostle Means to Me

In my last column, I discussed the ins and outs of modern-day...

Did Ancient China Once Worship the God of...

Across human history, a common thread weaves through the origins of the...

Love Your Neighbor – Including Earth-Kin: Lev. 19,...

God’s command to love your neighbor means acting in an ethical and...

Lead a Church Study of “Jesus and Lao...

Guest writer Jack Thomas (The Irreverent Reverend) reflects on leading his church...

Principles for Understanding the Apostolic Ministry Today

Whenever people discover that my formal ministry title is "apostle," as in...

view all Progressive Christian blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube