Preparing for a bittersweet weekend

I went to our worship music team rehearsal at Redeemer tonight for the first time since we left 3 months ago. It was so much fun to play with a team again, and such a blessing to me to see some of “my” team again.

I was there to prepare with the team for this coming Sunday, which will be my last official Sunday at Redeemer. It won’t necessarily be the last actual Sunday there, but it’ll be the last time I’m there as a called worker. (if you don’t know our story leading up to this, best give it read so the rest of this post will make sense…)

So I’m going to be helping to lead music for the later 2 services and preaching at all 3. There was a previously scheduled congregational meeting for 11:45am on Sunday, so I will use part of that agenda to ask the congregation to peacefully release my from my call, and then we’ll gather after that meeting for a reception to say an official farewell, but (probably more importantly) to celebrate the 4 years that God gave us to live and work together for His kingdom.

So if you’re reading this and you’re Redeemer folk, or in the Spokane area, I hope you’ll be able to join us at 8:00, 9:30, or 10:45 for worship, and then again around 12:15-12:30pm for our reception. (And if you are Redeemer folk – come to the meeting to give your voice to the budget and election of officers.)

It truly will be a bitter/sweet day. Bitter because leaving was not what we had planned. Sweet because we will get to celebrate God’s goodness in the midst of struggle, and because I will have the opportunity to share God’s Word with the church family through word and song once again.

God is Good. All the time. Even on bitter/sweet days.