Dear Partners in Mission:
We are church together across many miles in NT-NL. Our Panhandle Conference experiences those miles as significantly as any. Yet despite that they work to gather and build relationships. I received just recently this communication from our Conference Dean the Rev. Arlen Lloyd about a pulpit swap they accomplished. Of note here is the joy in the message but also that we have 5 ordained pastors to do a pulpit swap in the Panhandle. As recently as just a couple years ago we only had 1 regularly called pastor in the conference due to mobility. So good news, new pastors and colleagues learning and celebrating our commonality in worship and Word…
“Bishop,
I want to report to you about an event we had in the Panhandle Conference! On Sunday, July 28, five pastors of the conference exchanged churches/pulpits! This was set up by a random drawing process. Let’s just say it worked. I went to St Paul’s Levelland and Trinity in Clovis, Eric Saed went to Shepherd King in Lubbock, Darlene Hopkins went to Oslo rural Gruver, Sean McConathy went to Beautiful Savior in Amarillo and Leah Lawson went to Trinity rural Lockney. The purpose of the pulpit exchange was to help the congregations to become acquainted with other pastors in the conference and also to help the congregations understand/feel that they are part of a larger caring group of churches and pastors.
It was a great learning experience. Vary positive remarks from the pastors and the parishioners. Example: I was totally amazed what energy it takes to serve two churches 90 miles apart (as Eric Saed does every Sunday). Darlene discovered what it is like to serve in a remote area such as Oslo and because of the distance from Lubbock she and her husband came up and stayed over night where they had gracious hosts and a Sunday potluck noon meal especially for them. The other pastors of the conference had wonderful, and positive experiences. (All want to do it again maybe during Advent or Lent). We’ll see. Logistically wise I traveled 450 miles round trip, Darlene about the
same to come to Oslo, the other pastors about 200 miles round trip.
So you see it took a bit of commitment! The next time you speak to any of the pastors from the Panhandle Conference you may want to ask them about the “pulpit exchange experience”. A further note we not only preached at the service but presided at the church we went to interesting we discovered all follow the same format for worship (Gathering, Word, Meal and Sending) but each congregation adds their
own special touches to the service.
Peace and blessings!
Arlen (Dean of the Panhandle Conference)”
We are #TogetherInMission:
Bishop Gronberg