I have been confronting a lot of memories and dreams this week. Mostly all of which are good. This week we are doing a day camp (Vacation Bible School) at our church. The camp is being run by youth from the church Juli was the youth pastor at (and she started to do this for other churches across Canada). The response has been great and it is a real opportunity for us to connect with our community.

I have also been clearing out old files from my desk, filing cabinet and computer that pertained to my old job with First Baptist. We are now officially an autonomous church - and although we will always have a connect with FBC - the relationship has changed. This is not unlike my feeling when I moved out of my parents' home. I was old enough and felt ready to do it. It didn't mean I stopped loving them or being their son, but now we operate on a more peer-to-peer level. In many ways it would have been unhealthy to stay there longer, the timing was right. I think the same is true for SouthGate and FBC. They have major changes ahead of them - finding a new senior pastor, giving life to the ministry plans and new governance set out in their "New Futures" document, etc. I spent a while reminiscing about some of the ministry that took place - I feel content that I finished what I was called to do in that context.

Last week at a church meeting I was officially voted in as the pastor for SouthGate Baptist Church (as Sarah put it "now we're officiallystuck with Jeff"). I am looking forward to the new chapter - but even more so (right now anyways) I am looking forward to the arrival of my new son and some planned holidays!!!

The doodle is inspired by the Flight of Icarus. The feathers are a little singed, the body somewhat bruised, what hair is left is greyed and toussled, but I am confident that the ending of this story will be different than the original (...it was a story before it was an Iron Maiden song).

Ehkosit,

Migwec