WOW, what a neat congregation….

Queen Valley is a pleasant blessing, Risen Savior is gonna be fun, and yeah, there is still St Luke and Christ, Coolidge that I get to help out too.

Praise be Jesus Christ, hello to you wonderful readers of padredave.Substack.com each week, and thanks also for the few folks that have left comments. They are read and reflected on and responded to promptly.

I write this newsletter not only to communicate with the saints I get to see each week but also to the larger numbers (though not for long) of folks who read this on the Internet, not seeing me in person. I refer to the online readers as the currently largest group of readers, but that will receive some stiff competition from the folks at Risen Savior.

What is happening is that my deputized work of bringing Risen Savior in Chandler and Christ Lutheran in Coolidge together in a pastoral sharing relationship. Truthfully, I never expected this agreement would have such substantial effect on my own service to the Church.

So, I am asking for your prayers on my behalf beginning next weekend as I start my Sunday morning “commute” from Chandler/Sun Lakes to Queen Valley every Sunday morning. I have been tasked to serve as the Liturgist at the 0800 service at Risen Savior, and then I have 60 minutes to get over to Queen Valley, which my map program tells me is 53 minutes away/. Those of you who know my driving style are likely saying to yourself “No problem for you, Padre” and I think you are correct. The Law of Unintended Consequences often reminds me that there are limits to everything except God’s love and grace! 😉

I’m also excited about my Christmas Eve duties with services at 5:00, 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 (reminds me of my Fountain of Life days way back in the ‘80’s). I’m going to propose a Christmas Day service at Queen Valley if they would like that, but not have a Sunday service on the 26th, as I will be preaching and presiding at Risen Savior that morning.

I pray you can read my excitement and enthusiasm about this new schedule! How much better can it get that the Church sees fit to use this almost-dinosaur of a Pastor in these ways? I should start thinking of a concept for Pastors like the “Dinosaurs of Emergency Medical Services” pin and sticker on my back window. Anyone out there want to come up with an equivalent for Pastors? You have plenty of time, since this dinosaur of a Pastor still has muscles, tendons, organs, and some semblance of a brain, so I am not ready yet!

The peace of Christ be yours now and always