Four weeks ago today, June 23rd, I began my adventure as Director of Worship at Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church.  It's unbelievable all that can go on in that short time...

My first day I was introduced to the other 7 staff members here, I had lunch with the Pastor and did all the "new job" paperwork.  I went online and ordered a new laptop with a member of the congregation. 

The first week I met with a family who's mother had just passed away - not even 50 years old, and did the music for the funeral.  I played the drumset my first Sunday, attended a reception to welcome me and also a tree dedication for a member of the church family who lost her battle to cancer just over a year ago. 

Week two, I met with the "session", which I better knew as the "board" until I arrived.  I attended my first staff meeting, and also a picnic to help me meet the core group of people I'll be working with.  (there was like 50 people there...!)  I had lunch with the Communications Director and her sister.  I celebrated the 4th of July with my family at the cabin (and some of their Yuman friends).  My friend and former worship/drama team member (at Bridge), Pam Snead passed away on the 4th of July as well.  I planned the music for the service for the first time my second week.

Week three I went to an outdoor concert with the office manager here.  I also had dinner at a Session member's home and headed up to Sauk Rapids that night to play piano in a wedding.  I stayed with the Morgans and had a great time.  Saturday was the wedding, and I came home late Saturday night for the church service on Sunday.  My parents and Ben & Becky were in church so we ate at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch, and then I headed back to Sauk Rapids for Pam's funeral.

And now... here I am.  The Monday of week four.  I'll be meeting up with some friends tonight in Rogers, and tomorrow and Wednesday night I have meetings.  Then I think I can take a breath for a few days!

I don't know if it's possible for one's brain to leak... but I think mine has started.  Lots of names, faces, tasks, ideas...all good things, but I am ready for a day of rest!

So far, I love it here.  I miss my friends in Sauk Rapids, but I have felt very welcomed here, and have lots of exciting plans and ideas.  A few nights ago  I woke up with John 14:4 in my head - just the reference.  It says..."And you know the way to where I am going."...still trying to figure out the meaning of that.

As I write this morning I'm sitting in my garage waiting and hoping for people to come and buy my junk.  Whatever doesn't sell I'm bringing to the thrift store.  Really, I don't care much about the money (I highly doubt I'll make too much anyhow), I just want to get rid of the stuff - and the less to haul off in the end, the better. 

In the next week, I will wrap up this chapter of the last (almost) 7 years of my life.  I began working at Bridge Community Church the week after the tragedy of September 11th in 2001.  God definitely was completely in charge of bringing me here.  Someone sought me out, and called and called until I would finally consider.  I reluctantly met with the Pastor, unsure about working at a church throughout my senior year of college.  But I see God's purpose in bringing me here.  Through the hard times of ministry, He has drawn me closer to Him.  I have learned to become a leader and I've developed my worship and music skills under an incredible group of leadership.  I can't think of a better place for me to begin my first years in ministry.  It was a great time overall, but I was stretched far beyond what I would have ever imagined. 

Two people I have drawn close to in the past years have recently become very, very ill.  Sometimes I question why God would lead me to another church during this time.  I have many fears as I approach this new ministry.  Right now I have several good friends who live just a minute or two away.  I fear that I will be lonely as I move to a larger church where the community is far more spread out.  But as I look back at the experiences I've had in my life, God has blessed every chapter in some way.  I was fearful before I went to Crown - and I met some of the most amazing friends I will ever have while in college.  The same is true with Big Sandy Camp and of course here at Bridge.  The only time I ever remember being "miserable" was a time after college when I was working a job that was not for me.  (And who doesn't experience one or two fo those in a lifetime...?)  Even then, God used that time of loneliness to draw me closer to Him. 

As I go to Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church, I have those same fears, but at the same time, I am excited about the friends God will bring into my life.  Some of them may become like family, as I've experienced in the past.  I do realize that I need to be prepared to be a little lonely at first, but it will be a great time to continue to draw closer to God.

The song "You Never Let Go" plays through my mind as I prepare to end my time here and go on to new things.  It's based on the 23rd Psalm, and the chorus says "Oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm, Oh no, You never let go, every high and every low, oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me."  This time in my life is not a valley.  Sometimes I think we only clutch to this Psalm at a valley in our lives...but it encourages me in that no matter where I go, no matter which of my loved ones I am near (or far from), I am solely holding on to Christ's hand.  Besides myself, He will be the only one who will be with me for the rest of my life.  That truth brings me a vast amount of peace.    

I haven't even started on my house yet...but I have realized that my COMPUTER needs some cleaning!  I've spent hours going through files on my computer - getting rid of many duplicates, compiling songs into one big powerpoint presentation (which will save me tons of time in the future!), and deleting so many meaningless documents. 

This past weekend was good... My mom came up on Thursday night and we saw the movie "Made of Honor" on Friday night.  Saturday was the big "neighborhood garage sale" in my 'hood.  We spent hours sifting through other people's junk, and I came home with 1 thing.. a Harry Connick Jr. cd.  Oh well - it was worth it, I guess!  The neighborhood garage sale brought it's traditional rain of course and made for some great napping weather on Saturday afternoon.  Ben, Becky and I got Mom the Wii American Idol Karaoke Revolution game.  I can't wait to go down there and play it!

I've been terribly busy working...going straight from my church job to the group home.  It's been a huge blessing though.  I love the people I work with and its good for me to be with people who aren't just in the church.  I took this Friday off of everything to spend some time with God and talk to him about some decisions in my life.  I'm very much looking forward to it. 

Ben and Becky are in Chicago for the summer as Ben does his internship.  I'm hoping to get down there to visit at some point this summer.

I'm starting the book "Blue Like Jazz".  It was hyped up like crazy last year at the WillowCreek Arts Conference, and the author actually did one of the sessions.  I've only heard goo things, so I'm excited to see how it is.