January 25thUnboxing Boxing Day
Unboxing Boxing Day
I spent Boxing Day unpacking boxes. I moved into my new condo six days before Christmas and was excited to make it home, after living out my suitcase for seven weeks. I also had the chance to host my family for a New Year’s Eve lunch and needed to make sure there was enough room for us all. There was. (Thankfully, I have a large bedroom and could hide my many unpacked boxes in there. Transitions take time.)
But it wasn’t only my house that needed setting up. I had boxes (and boxes) of books to unpack in my church office. Mixed in amongst the books were “trinkets” and other memorabilia, together they tell part of my story: There is the clay candle holder with a cross from Arizona that was a gift from a boss when I worked in the financial services industry in the 1990s. Then there is the Hebrew Bible, a gift from Rev. Franz Wiebe at my home congregation of First Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, when I left for seminary (AMBS class of 2007, Bible major). I smiled with glee when I unpacked my two beanie babies - one with an American flag and one with a Canadian flag - a welcome gift when I started my first pastorate in Wadsworth, Ohio (2007-2014). Those little bears have been with me for my whole ministry.
Out of another box came a wooden Nativity set that is also a puzzle, a gift from one of the wood workers at Faith Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas (2014-2018). A little too late to put out this year, but it is on the bottom shelf waiting for little ones to play with it next year; right beside my small collection of children’s books (I love reading picture books to children in worship). On the window above that bookcase is a stained glass cross made for me by my neighbour in Carman, Manitoba (2018-2021) when I accepted the call to come to Alberta. All of these things were added to the beautiful kettle and tea that welcomed me to First Mennonite Church Edmonton (2022 - ) and the E3=MCA mug Tim presented me at the Installation service.
These are just a few of the items in my office that tell parts of my ministry story. It would take more than a Menno Minute to tell them all! I am glad to be at FMC Edmonton and Mennonite Church Alberta and look forward to meeting many of you at the Annual Delegate Sessions in March, by which time I hope all of my boxes will be unpacked!