a strange good-bye

Sunday was my last sermon until August. It's a little odd, knowing that I will not be back worshiping with my community for that long. The only times before when I've had that long a leave from community were leaving my first call -- hard, more final good-bye -- and for the birth of my two children. And with the kids, I never knew exactly when the leave would start (In Katie's case, it was quite unexpectedly early), so every Sunday was a sort of, "Well, we might see you again. . ."

Of course, lots of church members are absent for periods of time -- not usually this long, but certainly for weeks at a time -- due to travel or just happenstance of life. But it's so different when you are the steady presence and everyone else moves around you.

Needless to say, I'm very excited about the rest that lies ahead. Next Sunday morning I will not be sleeping in because I'll be getting on a plane, but it will nevertheless be a very different kind of weeekend.