March 2001

THE EASTER CYCLE BEGINNING WITH THE LENTEN JOURNEY -- "PRAYER, FASTING, AND ALMSGIVING"

The great and glorious Easter Cycle is upon us.  Wonderful worship and education is being planned for the journey from Ash Wednesday through Lent and Holy Week and on to Pentecost.

The theme for Lent is "Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving" as encouraged by Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew.  This is a commitment to engage in some form of spiritual practice (cultivating deeper prayer, devotional experiencing, meditation, contemplation and/or the practice of the presence of God), or to practice an eating discipline, or to engage in special acts of caring and compassion.

The Cycle begins with the Ash Wednesday service on February 28. Participants are invited to write their Lenten commitments on  pieces of paper which were later collected and burned.  This is followed by the imposition of ashes. 

The Rev. Barnett will also lead and facilitate a special evening study and spiritual practice during the five Wednesdays of Lent.  The title of these gatherings will be "Explorations in Meditation and Contemplation" which will include the prayer practices mentioned above. 

The format for the evenings beginning March 7 and ending April 4 will be supper at 6:00 p.m. and study and practice from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  The first and last events take place on Wednesday Evening Prayer nights, so on these occasions they will conclude with special worship for 30 minutes in the sanctuary.

The entire experience will help focus and center us as we prepare our full selves for the Lenten journey from Ash Wednesday through Palm/Passion Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and onto The Resurrection of the Lord/Easter and the Day of Pentecost.  The practices will also help us in our daily lives.

The Easter Cycle will continue with Sunday worship throughout Lent, the children participating in worship on Palm/Passion Sunday and Holy Thursday (6:00 p.m.), Good Friday Tenebrae (8 p.m.), and Easter services at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. with decorating the sanctuary and pancake breakfast between the two services.  The Day of Pentecost will be celebrated with all participating on Sunday, June 3.

PASTOR'S LETTER

Greetings!

Early one evening during my first week here, I was at my desk speaking to a member about pastoral concerns.  A full moon rose above Nob Hill.  God was in heaven.  All was well with the world. 

Talking about the moon, there is something called the "honeymoon" period when a new pastor arrives at a church.  They say this could last for a year.  When people would ask me near the beginning of my installed pastorates whether I was still in the honeymoon period, I would say, "What honeymoon?"

I think there is such a thing as a honeymoon between a congregation and a new installed pastor.  Once the courtship is over and the marriage has taken place, there's a new openness and a willingness to learn from each other.  There's the joy of discovery.  There's gratitude.

As your newly begun interim pastor I feel that in some ways I'm on a honeymoon with you.  I also know that I have had to hit the ground running.  Without denying the special feeling of being new and somewhat in the honeymoon stage, the task before me is pre-eminent.

So, I intend to catch on fast, to jump in boots and all with you to keep the ministry strong and vital, to affirm with you the goal of caring for each other, and continue to lift up Old First Presbyterian Church as the special place it is in the city of San Francisco.  This is a fine church, with a rich history, and a strong present and presence.  Your witness is important. 

I will be with you for a short time.  My contract with you is for a year, but this could end earlier or later depending how things move with the Pastor Nominating Committee.  It will be over before the honeymoon is over!  That's the nature of interims.

Whatever the time, we are together in ministry to do the best we can to be what God wants us to be here in the city.  May God bless our time together.  I'm looking forward to the next full moon to rise over the city.

Shalom, Cornel

POLLY DAY’S RECITAL

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2 PM

A musical tour through the historic heart of Europe with piano music of composers from Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Germany.

A benefit for Old First Concerts. Reception immediately following.

What Would You Do If ................

ETHICAL DECISION MAKING IN A CONFUSING WORLD

All are invited to Old First’s Retreat March 16-18, 2001 at Westminister Woods. The Rev. Erwin Barron will lead us in looking at how we make decisions as Christian people. We will be given new resources to use and have an opportunity to try them out in case studies and real life situations.

One portion of the retreat will offer a choice of focus on a particular type of ethics that interests you: sexual ethics, bio-ethics, business ethics, or feminist ethics. For those interested in a more theoretical-based discussion group, there will be an opportunity to read a series of articles that will be incorporated into the small group discussions.

As everyone knows, retreats aren’t only about study. They’re also about enjoying each other’s company, relaxing and having fun. Apart from the standard activities of skits, puzzles and charades, we are introducing a new one for Old First: Bible Sword Fights. Come prepared and know your books of the bible.

Look for the sign-up table in the Fellowship Hall after worship.

OLD-FASHIONED ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Join the deacons for our annual ice cream social in the Fellowship Hall after the service on April 22.  The cost is only $2.50 for adults and $1.00 for children 12 and under.  We will have flavors and toppings to suit every taste.  Limited quantities of sorbet also will be available as an ice cream substitute.  All proceeds benefit the Deacons' Fund. 

RETURN OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

Our newly reconstituted Congregational Care Committee held its first meeting February 1. Co-moderators Doris Bebb and Libby Klitsch have been working for several months to work out the responsibilities of this group and how it will work in cooperation with the Deacons, the Evangelism Committee and other groups and programs in the church.

Committee members are Rosemary Bledsoe, Barry Clagett, Tracy Clagett, Bart Crosby, Polly Day, Marne Krozek and Bryan Nichols........ with room for a few more.

The CCC’s first project was the Annual Congregational Luncheon on February 11. They coordinated, presented, and cleaned up after the potluck meal. Many thanks to everyone who brought food and helped in any way!

As of April 1, CCC will assume the responsibility for serving  Coffee Hour that was previously done by the Deacons,  thus giving them more time for Deacon-ing. The CCC member in charge of  Coffee Hour each week will be looking for lots of volunteer coffee-pourers; they’d love to hear from you.

This group will be in charge of the church’s Anniversary luncheon each year. The date has already been set for Old First’s 152nd birthday party -- Sunday, May 20.

And ...... CCC is doing signups and collecting payment for sanctuary flowers and Coffee Hour. See the next article for details.

SANCTUARY FLOWERS AND COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS

Signups are now  taking place in the Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.

Look for a smiling volunteer* from the new Congregational Care Committee who will be happy to take your order and sign you up for an available date.

You will be given a coupon for writing in your dedication and the date you wish to sponsor.  Just return it with payment to the volunteer or send it in to the church office two weeks before the date you've chosen.  It's easy! It's fun! It supports Old First!

*volunteers needed for various coffee hour duties. See Libby Klitsch, Doris Bebb or the volunteer at the sign-up table Thank you!

Pastor Nominating Committee Update

by Pam Byers

The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) continues working to find a new  pastor for Old First.  We have received more than 60 Personal Information Forms (PIFs) or resu-mes.  About two dozen came through the denomination’s  "match-making" service.  The rest are from people who contacted us directly, having seen our ads, been intrigued by our Church Information Form (CIF), or been recruited to submit their PIF by a friend of Old First. 

Our committee is encouraged by the high quality of many of these applicants. Some of them are not circulating their PIFs at all; we are the only church they have sent it to.

Even as we continue to receive inquiries and PIFs, we have contacted a number of people requesting more information -- copies of their Faith Statement and, in some cases, a sermon tape.  We are meeting weekly, discussing potential candidates and listening to sermon tapes.

You can help this process!

… Continue to participate actively in the life of Old First.  The church really is the   congregation, and our life is not "on hold" while we work to find and call a new pastor.

  … Pray for the congregation, the PNC, and the future pastor God has in mind for us.

SESSION NOTES

From the January 23, 2001 meeting

The meeting was held in the sanctuary chancel, as the Men’s Shelter occupied the Fellowship Hall that evening.

The operating budget for 2001 was approved. The budget is based on agreements reached at a meeting of committee moderators held January 13.

Committee Moderators for the coming year are: Christian Education - Sidney Hollar; Congregational Care - Doris Bebb (with Libby Klitsch as Vice Moderator); Evangelism - Kelly Cunningham; Finance - Barry Clagett;  Mission - Dick Bobb (with Lori Yamauchi as Vice Moderator); Nominating - George Becker; Operations - Phil Pollock; Personnel - Jean Olson; Planning - John Sebastian; Stewardship - Amelia Kaymen; Worship - Alison Armstrong.

Tom Culp will be Clerk of Session; John Sebastian, Corporation President; and Michael Berg, Treasurer.  Steve Taber will represent Session on the board of Old First Concerts. Lori Yamauchi will be Session delegate to the Nominating Committee. Rosemary Bledsoe will be Session liaison to the Board of Deacons. Greg Free will be Assistant Treasurer, and Pam Free, Assistant Clerk of Session.

HOMELESS MINISTRY REPORT

by the Rev. Kathleen McAdams

Happy Birthday to us!! February 23rd marked two years since the opening of the Welcome Center. We celebrated with a special meal - spaghetti - just like on the first day. A few of our current guests remember that day.

Thanks to all of you who volunteered as overnight hosts for the Men's Emergency Shelter during January and February. The Old First fellowship hall was sanctuary to more than 60 men each night, many of which were quite cold and rainy. The Episcopal Community Services staff was top notch; the dinners served by St. Ignatius, St. Aidan's and Temple Emanu-El were amazing; and the guests were well mannered and appreciative of our hospitality. Way to go!

The Adult Education Series on Hospitality and Boundaries - held on Monday nights in February - was a great success. The series began with a program by the SF Food Bank called "Hunger 101." Fifteen people attended from two churches, and we had a great conversation about the reality of poverty in our city. Some of the realizations were: when a family's budget is pinched, food is the item which is most readily squeezed; the "working poor" may not be able to take advantage of soup kitchens and food stamp programs; when the factors of disability or addiction are added to the harsh economics of San Francisco, it is nearly impossible for people to manage their resources effectively. The presenters suggested that we continue to support food programs and pantries, and advocate for easier access to government assistance programs. The Food Bank's website (www.sffoodbank.org) has links to other hunger advocacy organizations.

Thanks so much for the clothing, toiletries, blankets and coats that many of you have been donating. They are much appreciated. Please keep them coming.

Our monthly Community Dinners have been moved to the 2nd Saturday of each month, so as to better serve the needs of our guests. The next dinner is on Saturday, March 10th at Old First, and is hosted by Old First's Stewardship Committee. Volunteers from all area faith communities are welcome to join us for preparation at 4pm, or to serve between 5:30 and 7pm.Great news: beginning in May, St. Luke's will alternate with Old First to host the dinners.

My time with Old First, and with the Homelessness Task Force, is drawing to an end. My contract ends on March 31, and if mutually agreeable to the Session and myself, it may be extended by a month or two. I am in the process of finding an Episcopal congregation to serve as Associate Rector, and the Task Force will soon be seeking a new Director of Homeless Ministry. It has been a blast working with all of you, and with the guests of the Welcome Center. You have many fine gifts for ministry, and you share them with great generosity. What a wonderful place to have begun my ordained ministry!

ARE YOU READY TO JOIN US?

An Inquirers Class will be held at 12:30 pm, Sunday, March 11, for those interested in joining Old First or just learning more about this congregation and the Presbyterian church.

The next class of new members will be received Palm Sunday, April 8.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

received January 28:

Emily Borland joined by Letter of Transfer. She is the granddaughter of a Presbyterian minister. Her family has been Presbyterian for at least five generations; her mother is Clerk of Session at their home church in West Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Emily moved here after graduating from Syracuse University last fall. She found work in her field of interior design with a large architectural firm. She found an apartment on Nob Hill and she found Old First -- and those two are connected. When she checked out the websites of San Francisco Presbyterian churches, she wrote to the churches asking for advice about finding a place to live. The only response she got was from Old First; Tom Kearney sent her some helpful hints. Emily is interested in our ministrty to the homeless.

Fernando Gonzalez joined by Reaffirmation of Faith. Almost everyone already knows Fernando; he has been Old First’s custodian for 16 years. He was born and raised in Guatemala City, Guatemala, where he was baptized in his Roman Catholic parish. He has always considered himself a Catholic, but in recent years he has come to realize that his church family and real community of faith is at Old First. Fernando worked for freedom and justice in Guatemala and left in 1982 because of fear of persecution and dislike of the political system. He came to San Francisco, where he began working in a hotel. Doris Krauss hired him to work at Old First in 1985, and Elizabeth Pride opened the door for him on his first day, which was his birthday. He says Old First is full of “beautiful people” who helped him overcome his personal problems. He feels closer to God here.

Dana Nojima  joined by Letter of Transfer from Westminster Presbyterian in Minneapolis. He grew up in the Los Angeles area and became a memer of a Free Methodist congregation in the 8th grade -- a Japanese American congregation, fairly conservative theologically. As a young adult, he joined Eastminster Presbyterian in Ventura. When he and his wife moved to Minnesota for his PhD in 1990, they became members of Andrew-Riverside Presbyterian, and later joined Westminster until moving to the Bay Area in 1999. Dana is married to Elaine Lyford; they live in Oakland. They knew and worked with Erwin Barron in Minneapolis. Dana is now working for a bio-technology company in the business of discovering unknown genes and turning them into biopharmaceuticals. Dana is active in our Adult Education program.

Jay Pierson joined by Profession of Faith and Baptism. He grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan and began attending a Reformed Church in America congregation as a teenager. He was active in their music program, eventually becoming their choir director, but never joined the church. Since then he has always been active in a variety of congregations as music director, organist or soloist. Jay has a PhD in voice from Eastman School of Music. He was on the faculty of East Carolina and Bucknell Universities. He has lived in San Francisco for three years, and is a professional freelance musician, voice teacher, member of the Symphony chorus and the Gay Men’s Chorus, not to mention section leader of  the Old First Choir. He is also a published composer of vocal and choral music. Jay sees in Old First the qualities a church should have -- care for society, diversity and openness. He also feels that the church and especially the choir have become a supportive family for him. He is now ready to join a church for the first time.

JIM JUHAN HAS AN INTERIM PASTORATE IN LAS VEGAS

The Rev. Jim Juhan, former Old First member, elder and Parish Associate,  is the new interim pastor at First Presbyterian of Las Vegas, a church of 1500 members.

We’ve heard a few details about the church from Cynthia Conners: “They’ve come through some hard times. Beloved pastor went on sick leave and died. They had a ‘stated supply’ for five years, who didn’t move them any closer to a permanent full-time pastor. There are some divisions about the church’s mission, and now there is a problem with mold contamination of the CE building that’s going to require the pre-school and K-8 (yes, a real church school) to relocate for several months).

“Jim has a good background in management, organizational development, healing and reconcilation along with pastoring, so this is a good fit. There are two associated pastors and four on the music staff, also a youth director and some others. Pretty big outfit. Jim is eating it up.”

Cynthia said she is doing her best to be a good pastor's wife, which includes not yawning during sermons (even when it's the 3rd time through!) She is also teaching them to have hot tea during the coffee time.

WHO’S GOING WHERE

Former Old First members Mark and Cynthia Newton and children George and Carol have moved to Portland, where the Rev. Mark has been called to Mount Scott Presbyterian Church.  They were at Old First on Sunday, February 18, their last day in the Bay Area, to say goodbye to all their friends here.

Deacon Co-Moderator John Weems, wife Colleen and son Jacob Timothy are moving to Sacramento due to a change in John’s employment.

Steve Brister and Carmine Salvucci are are moving to the Los Angeles area.

LECTIONARY

Mar.  4 - Deut. 26:1-11; Ps. 91:1-2, 9-16; Rom. 10:8b-23; Luke 4:1-13

Mar.  11 - Gen. 15:1-12, 17-18; Ps. 27; Phil. 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

Mar.  18 - Isa. 55:1-9; Ps. 63:1-8; 1 Cor. 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

Mar.  25 - Josh. 5:9-12; Ps. 32; 2 Cor. 5:16-21;  Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Apr. 1- Isa. 43:16-21; Ps. 126; Phil. 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8

WHY I CONTINUE TO GO TO SMALL GROUP INSTEAD OF

STAYING HOME AND TAKING A NAP

by Carol Carter

It is a sanctuary for me when my head isn’t on straight * It is a place where I am accepted even if my head isn’t on straight. * It is a unit with a strong sense of community, where people can speak honestly and laughter flows. *

It is consistently there -- wherever “there” might be from time to time -- and that consistency, when not too much else is sometimes, is wonderful. *

It is where I am always glad to see the people that are there and often miss those who aren’t. * It is where we can be proud of each other’s accomplishments, even if it is just a nap skipped that evening. * It is where we can feel hugged and supported during the bad times, whether or not there is touching, because we are there for each other even if it isn’t verbalized, and that is just what one does in a small group. * I don’t know too much about the bible-- I may never retain and know much about the bible when compared to others, but comparing isn’t relevant in a small group. * In a small group my spirituality, however it can be described at the moment, continues to change and grow. * It is where I continue to develop courage within me to speak of this nebulous thing which is my spirituality.

* It is a place where I don’t have to speak and can just sit, listen, and learn.

* It is a place I miss when I’m not there. * With objectivity and no bias whatsoever, it is the best Small Group out there!

Candidate under Care:

TERRY STUMPF, McCormick Theological Seminary

Greetings and Peace to each one of you.

Well, I am alive and well in Chicago, surviving yet a second winter; this one has been much colder and with a lot more snow  than last. I am in my second year at McCormick. I have enjoyed all my course work so far; some courses are more of a struggle than others. My most favorite have been: Forgiveness and Reconciliation and Calling the Poet in the Prophetic and Worship. I serve on the Spiritual Life Committee at the Seminary.

This whole academic year I am taking my field study site ministry course. I am at a church in Hyde Park:  approximately 400 people and a very mixed ethnic congregation (40% African-American, 10% African, 5% Hispanic, and 1% Asian). The vast majority work in some capacity at the University of Chicago and actually live in the neighborhood, walking to church on Sunday. I assist with worship leadership and will preach three times over the academic year. One of my assigned projects is the Parish Visitor Ministry with five volunteers who are making parish visits to the home bound. We meet monthly for check-in, conversation, training, support, and prayer.

I started work December of 1999 as the Director, Center for Health Ministry at Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. It is a very large congregation (4,500+) located on North Michigan Avenue. On Sunday morning with three services, it can be just a sea of faces. But it also has a lot of strengths and challenges. I have started a Community Health Ministry with five neighboring congregations, working on mutual projects and sharing resources. I just signed a contract with Northwestern Memorial Hospital this week to enable us to begin a Health and Wellness Program with our Social Service Center which serves the homeless in the neighborhood.

I serve on the church’s Pastoral Care Team making home visits; I also am a consultant for the clergy and professional staff with regard to health issues. I finished serving as Moderator, Presbyterian Health Network, PHEWA in January, 2001, and am now helping start a new PHEWA   Network -- Presbyterian Anti-Violence Network. Also with this interest and through Fourth Church, I am Chair of the Chicago Police Department's 18th District Community Domestic Violence Awareness Committee.

I have preached once at Fourth Church for Sunday Evening Vespers. I developed the liturgy, had a liturgical dancer for the Communion Preparation Hymn and wove a Native American Poem into the sermon on Table Manners.

It seems that between my Parish Nurse ministry at Old First Presbyterian Church, the Health Educator for the Presbytery of San Francisco, and educational consultant with Bay Area Health Ministry, my work at Fourth draws from all of those areas. Sometimes it just seems so amazing.

I have enjoyed several of you coming to Chicago and stopping by for a meal and conversation. I especially enjoy receiving "Shared Life" with a little handwritten note on it each issue.  >^..^<

 I have been encoded with my experiences and memories of my work and ministry with the Senior Activity Center on Mondays. Each Monday I remember those  times, stories, and experiences -- and miss them dearly. I do not get to do as much hands-on here at Fourth Church because we have other Parish Nurses who do that work and ministry.

Do I get to rest? Yes, I only work four days per week and am only taking two classes per quarter (so I am on the  four-year plan, rather than the three-year plan). We have a great Taize Service once each month with about 700 people in Oak Park; that is a monthly spiritual habit. I also joined a Covenant Group of five students; we meet twice a month for reflection and prayer. I am still addicted to reading books on spirituality. Depending on public transportation I do get to spend a lot of time reading.

I miss Old First and all of you.

email address: tstumpf@fourthchurch.org

A LITTLE PLAIN TALK ABOUT PASTORS

by Rosemary Bledsoe

At our Leadership Retreat in January we thought about the people in our congregation who grew up in other denominations or no denomination, who are relatively new to Old First, and/or who maybe haven't been paying a lot of attention to how the church operates.  We realize the process of calling a pastor and this period between permanent pastors can be confusing  and frustrating for many of us.

"I'm sick of hearing about The Process," you might be muttering. Nevertheless, if you think Old First is a great place to be, you have been enjoying  the benefits of The Process whether you like it or not, whether you want to discuss it or not.

So, here are a few Facts of Life --- Presbyterian life, Old First Church life.

Too much to swallow at once? Let's go through the list again:

1) A permanent pastor isn't permanent -- not at Old First, not anywhere. We can probably expect a permanent pastor to stay with us somewhere between five and ten years. That's our place on the Presbyterian Food Chain: high enough to expect at least five years (because it's a challenging and educational call), not high enough for more than ten (because a pastor isn't likely to consider Old First the culmination of his/her career).

While we're at it, let's face a related fact: Old First is an influential church, much more so than its size would warrant. If it's our destiny to be a place where bigger and richer churches shop for their senior pastors, that's not such a bad thing. The rest of the denomination has a lot to learn from us.

2) An interim pastor is a real pastor -- not a stop-gap emergency measure, not a band-aid, not life support -- but a real, seminary-educated, ordained servant of God. One difference is in the terms of call.  An interim pastor is hired by the Session for a specific length of time, with the appropriate contractual provisions to end his/her employment when the permanent pastor is called by the congregation. 

Another difference is in the focus of his/her work; it usually involves ministering to a congregation experiencing some kind of corporate angst -- grief, confusion, anger -- over the departure of another pastor.  Their role is similar in many respects to that of step-parents, who aren't always valued and respected either, and they understand the "you're not my daddy!" attitude. They're trained for it; they expect it.

A personal note: I've been a member of Old First for 19 years; in that time, we've had two permanent pastors and eight interims, stated supplies and temporary whatevers: the Revs. Williams (twice), Juhan, Vogt, Lee, Davis, Ashton, Barron, and Barnett. The names of interim pastors are seldom remembered, but they should be. These people are the mortar between the bricks, the supporting players who never get star billing. Every one has made a real contribution to the church. We wouldn't be here without them.

3) The pastor doesn't run the church. A Presbyterian church is governed by its Session of Elders and served by its Board of Deacons. The pastor, whether permanent or interim, is a contracted  employee. She/he has autonomy in very few areas, mainly in the content of sermons and the choice of hymns for the worship service, and is not above criticism on any count.

Did you think the pastor makes all the decisions and those 42 other people are just here to say, "Sure, Rev, whatever you want"? About half a century ago, Dr. Creighton tried that and even got away with it for a while -- before leaving Old First in disgrace; he's the skeleton in our  closet, and possibly the reason why the lay leadership is so strong in this congregation.

This is maybe  the hardest part to understand, so I’m going to say it again:  A Presbyterian congregation is a democracy, governed by laypeople -- elected leaders -- no matter who the pastor is or is not.  When a pastor leaves, the work of Session, its committees and the congregation goes on. The Deacons continue to minister to their parishes.  There continue to be pledge drives, budgets, elections, and meetings, meetings, meetings. (There is never a shortage of meetings; there are, in fact, even more meetings!)

Yes, I know people develop important relationships with their pastors, and it’s a loss when a pastor leaves. May I suggest you look around, identify your duly-elected, properly-ordained elders and deacons, and develop a stronger relationship with them?  If you need  to project some warm-fuzzy feelings for a Servant of God on a particular person, see who’s still there as you leave after the Sunday service, who’s in the building at all hours after their day jobs --  who’s planning the worship services, visiting the sick,  feeding the hungry, signing the checks, teaching the children, doing the work of the church!

4) Calling a new pastor takes time. It's that Process thing. (If it says "Presbyterian" on the label, there's nothing speedy inside.) It's a kind of courtship, and a commitment nobody worthwhile wants to rush into.

Pastors aren't commodities on a shelf, sitting there waiting for us to pick one. They are doing their own evaluation of potential calls. They have their own lists of items to consider, including employment opportunities for their spouse, schools for their children, buying a home. That last one is a major consideration, even with the church helping with the purchase.  Our beloved San Francisco isn't everybody's cup of tea, either; for example, while the PNC that called Tim was doing its work, we had the Loma Prieta earthquake, and some potential candidates heard God calling them to firmer ground.

Old First is not an easy church to define, much less to serve. "Inner-city?" Not exactly. "Thriving?" Well, at times. "Stable?" In numbers, but the actual members come and go very quickly, even less permanent than the pastor.  "Historic?" Sure, but with a legacy of constant change and a certain ornery streak in which we take some pride.

 "Dear Reverend, would you be interested in ministering to a parade of the strangest assortment of delightful, caring people you've ever seen?" That question weeds out a lot of candidates right there, and it makes finding our Reverend Right even more complicated.

What takes more time than anything is listening for God's voice. God works in God's own time, not ours. The right pastor is out there -- there's never a question about that -- but a PNC needs more than an impressive resume and great references and knock-your-socks-off sermons. The committee and their chosen candidate need to arrive together at a feeling of rightness, they need to be convinced of the rightness ........ and that takes time.  Not just time, but the patience, understanding and support of the congregation.