December is a busy month for people who work in churches — even those of us who work in post-Christian Unitarian Universalist churches still have lots of Christmas madness to contend with.
On top of the usual Christmas madness, here at First Unitarian we still have a number of building improvements going on. When I first started working in churches, the old battle-scarred religious professionals all said, Make sure you never have building projects going on during December, because it’s just too much — yet here we are, with building projects still going on.
On top of Christmas madness and building projects, we’ve been experiencing 20-30% increase in Sunday attendance each month since May. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise — growth is a stressful thing for churches to undergo.
On top of Christmas madness, building projects, and the stress of growth, I’ve got whatever virus has been infecting everyone here in New Bedford. It’s one of those lingering viruses that sticks with you for weeks — I’ve been sick off and on for over a month — and it’s gotten so many people that supposedly one of the clinics in the city had to close down at noon one day because they had so many sick people wanting treatment.
The upshot of all this is that I don’t have time to write anything tonight. I’m going to bed instead.
…even those of us who work in post-Christian…
It was probably holiday-hassle for the pre-Christian celebrants too, don’t you think?
I was watching the news last night about the protests in Madison over the name of the treen in the Wisc state Capital: Holiday tree v Christmas tree… which I thought pretty senseless protest on the part of a secularist who should know better.
One need not be much of a historian to figure out this not a holiday with deep Christian roots: the tree a big tip off.
We will miss your miracle birth stories…
Merry Christmas.
Dear Dan,
Can I say “Whoo-Hoo!!” about the growth, and not just because it will make the BCD numbers look better ;-)
Can I also say, in a ministerial tone of voice, “Take care and time for yourself in the midst of the madness and projects”.
blessings,
Rosemary
Bill — You write: “One need not be much of a historian to figure out this not a holiday with deep Christian roots: the tree a big tip off.” I laughed out loud when I read this! I think I will be quoting you in an upcoming sermon….
Rosemary — Thanks for the reminder to take time and care.