Time of Change in a Time of Change

I cannot believe that I have been here for almost a full month. It still feels fresh and new to me. I want to thank all of you for not only for welcoming me but also for so patiently bearing with me as I am still learning everything that makes Union Church unique.

It reminds me of my two favorite sayings about time.

Time flies like the wind, but fruit flies like bananas.

(If you don’t like that one, blame Groucho Marx.)

Time flies when you are having fun, but it also goes pretty fast when you are just goofing off.

Hopefully, we won’t be goofing off during this interim time. But anytime you have an interim situation, it feels a little odd. We do our best to get to know each other, but at the same time, we know that it is only temporary. Even though I am your interim pastor, I still want to be your pastor in the interim as much as you need me to be. So, if you need anything, please reach out to me.

I’ll be in town every Sunday through Wednesday. I will usually be in the office until 4:30 on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday before I start my drive back to Fresno. I’ll often be in the office later. For example, as I write this in the church office, it is after 5:00 on Wednesday afternoon.

Even when I am in Fresno, you can still reach me via email. (Please find my email address in our weekly newsletter)

Back to thinking about time, there are two things I want to communicate to you this week.

First, don’t forget that it is time change Sunday. Yes, we move back from Pacific Daylight Time to Pacific Standard Time. Really, all that matters is that we get an extra hour of sleep this week. As one who gets up at 4:30 a.m. to drive to Cupertino every Sunday morning, that’s important.

Most of us have clocks that change automatically, but if you don’t, be sure to change them before you go to bed or you will be an hour early for worship. But, if you get here early, you can join me for prayer before the service.

That leads me to my second point. During this interim time, we will experience many changes. I’ll say once again, I’m not going to be the driver of many of the changes. I’ll just be helping the leadership consider what changes need to be made. In one sense, it will feel like we are in a “holding pattern” for a while.

What can you do as we wait for whatever changes the church may decide to make? You can pray. As the church gets ready to consider the future, prayer is just as important as ever, maybe even more so.

Here are a few tips for how you can be praying.

1. Pray for the leaders – I’ll be collaborating with the Pastor Search Team and the Board to help them determine our next steps. They’ll need wisdom and strength throughout this process.

2. Pray for the staff – An interim time is tough on the staff, too. Not only have they lost their longtime pastor, but they have also lost their team leader. Now they have to get used to the temporary replacement. It can be stressful.

3. Pray for the community – Even though Union Church is a closeknit group, we have a responsibility to carry the message and the love of Jesus to our community. As we determine the best way to engage them, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to prepare their hearts.

4. Pray for the congregation – Let’s support each other in prayer, especially those who already feel they have reached their limit with change. This interim time requires faith, hope, patience, and grace.

5. Pray for yourself – As we continue this process of examination, there will come a time when you have to decide two questions.

   a. Do I believe this is the direction God wants our church to take?

   b. Do I believe that I can travel this journey with the church?

We aren’t at the point of deciding on that journey yet, but it will be here before you know it. Once we call a new “permanent” pastor, you may have to answer those questions again.

But don’t worry, we have some wonderful promises from God that He will guide us through this journey.

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

— Deuteronomy 31:8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

— Proverbs 3:5–6

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

— James 1:5

Sincerely and prayerfully,

Pastor Daryl