Remember a couple of days ago when I posted this quote?...
The Church is not a place where perfect people gather to say perfect things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings.
The Church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support, and service to each other as we press on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Father.
--by Elder Joseph Wirthlin
Our Ward is small right now. Like small as a Branch. I asked the Bishop how many actives there are and I think he said 127 adults. Now that might be a lie. I did not write it down but it was a very small number. To have a fully functioning Church program that we can all enjoy attending/participating/receiving blessings of such, then people have to not only be called but accept those callings. And...the rest of us support them! Re-read that quote. Those words are in there.
So you take a small group of people, adjudged by an Apostle as imperfect, and calls are issued that put them in close quarters, in the service category, and it can be very interesting.
We have a new Bishopric, and as usually happens, all sorts of changes are made. I enjoy these changes as there are always energised folks, fresh from the starting gate, inspired/enthused with new ideas from personal revelation. It's a big boost!
Today alone there were 15 new calls extended- after all 15 were released from their old callings. Now 15 in one fell swoop is a lot. Entirely new RS group and YW group (except for me. they let me stay in for a bit longer) plus teachers in both Primary and Sunday School.
The calls can only come from that small imperfect group of active people and once in awhile there have been feathers ruffled that are still aflutter or necks still bent out of shape or offenses still being reminisced about or even dirty laundry still flapping in the breeze. So like dust needing to settle before it can really be cleaned up, there will perhaps be a little shifting of attitudes, as we embrace the newness of folks that have worked hard to be better and have let go of past grievances/offenses (whether given or received) and are ready to work side by side for the betterment of The Cause. The Cause=The Gospel.
Only time will tell the temperature reading of our Ward in this great shift! I'm excited as the old crew gets a break and harnesses up to a new plow. Equally excited as the new crew gears up, to learn and experience service, inexperienced up to this point and breaks new ground. Harvests will be gleaned from the past leaders and planting of seedlings for new things will take place.
My prayers are with each of these 15 people, our new Bishopric, and all of us at large. The pulse of our Ward will be the sum of what each of us bring to the table. I'm bringing sweets! You?
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