For those of you who lifted up high holy hands in prayer that the snow would wait until AFTER the installation, thank you muchly. We had no problems getting to either church and both services went well. The hymns were familiar, so I was being very un-Lutheran and singing audibly. (I was sitting next to one of my confirmands at one service and she was worshipping much the same way. God bless former churches where people love to sing!) There was a potluck after the second church service and some people from the first church came over to eat with us. I chose to sit with the president of the call committee, who decided to ask me why I wasn’t sitting with Jon and the assistant to the bishop. I explained that I had decided that we were going to spread out and besides, I could be anti-social if I wasn’t sitting with Jon. I think I shocked him — that warm, bubbly, little Jen likes to be anti-social. I’m guessing that he doesn’t see me as an introvert?

Do Jon and I a favor and pray really hard that the roads will be reasonably clear tomorrow. We’re under a winter storm warning and we’re expecting 4-8 inches of snow. Jon’s installation at both churches is tomorrow and it’s a big to-do. I’d really *like* to have people there (and be able to get there safely.

My Confirmation kids were whiny today. They had just finished finals and had all the memory work and reading to do for Confirmation (which I might have lightened if they had TOLD me), which apparently made it too much. They DID have two fairly lengthy verses; but that was because they hadn’t done their memory verse the previous week.

I also informed them that they had to do faith essays and that we would pick the best three to read in front of the congregation. This got whines of “but I hate reading my own writing” from people. We might choose other people to read them in front of the congregation and I’ll probably make a display board of all the essays. I wish the kids realized how much it means to the parents to have their child’s essays chosen and read and even to see the other kids read essays on their faith to the congregation. Maybe I should give them 1 Peter 3:15 as a memory verse next week?

I gave the kids the study guides for their tests today and we talked about some of the seasons of the Church year. My 2nd year students knew more than they thought they did and it was interesting discussion. We’re going to try and move their class to Sunday and lengthen it by 30 minutes so that we can get through everything. I might also give them some handouts on prayer and how to pray.

I also wish my lesson had gone better tonight. I had musical examples of psalms and stuff but the kids were really distracted. I guess you win some and you lose some…