Well, I have done it again. At the stroke of midnight, I re-retired from active ministry in a church setting. These past two months I have preached and lead worship at the church where we are now attending and where Bonnie has her membership: Harrisburg UMC (In case you wonder, I do not join a church, as my membership is in the Western NC Annual Conference).
These past nine weeks reminded me why I retired the first time around; while most meaningful and often joyful, ministry is also demanding and flat-out tiring, at times, especially when leading three services in one day, going to the hospital for visitation, and conducting funerals (I only had three during this period).
I will miss preaching, but it will be nice, for a change, to listen to and be fed by others. I think I will go to bed now.
About Me
- FriarTuck43
- I was born in Texas while my father was in the Army, lived in Georgia with my mother during WW II, and grew up in New Jersey, via Staten Island, NY. I went to work in the Valentino Brothers grocery store in 1954, making 35 cents a day after school and $1.00 for 14 hours on Saturdays. I also received lunch and dinner. I have held a job most of my life since then. We moved to Springfield, NJ in 1956. I was able to finish 6th grade that first year, and graduated from Jonathan Dayton Regional HS in 1961. After a dismal college experience at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, I flunked out my senior year. I had always worked with my hands, and eventually got a job with Red Ball Freight Co. working on the docks on the midnight shift. I joined the US Marine Corps in 1965, serving in Vietnam from Jan 68 to Feb 69. I was stationed in California and North Carolina, where I was discharged in 1970 after 4 1/2 years of active service. Feeling called to ordained ministry, I returned to college and seminary. Remaining in NC, I have been here off and on since 1966. I am married to Bonnie. We have four adult children and one grandson.
1 comment:
De, please continue to post on your blog. I enjoyed your column in the church newsletter and am excited that I have found your blog thru Dan's. Please don't stop now! Also, I would love to see pictures of your and Bonnie's garden adventures!
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