As I am counting down to GA I'm trying to figure out what I'll be doing.  I'm an alternate commissioner, which means that I'm the back up to one of the commissioners.  You know, like the first runner up to Miss America-- if the commissioner becomes unable to perform his or her duties, I will take on the role and responsibility of GA commissioner from the Presbytery of East Tennessee! Frankly, I'd just as soon remain an alternate so I can learn more about taking part in GA before I have any real responsibilities.

So what will go on at GA?  Well, from what I can tell, a lot of committee meetings-- 3x a day for 2-3 hours at a time-- and some plenary sessions. One of the first tasks undertaken by the assembly will be to elect a new moderator (more on that later.)  That will happen on Saturday night. On Sunday, the primary gathering will be the opening worship service, which I am looking forward to a great deal.  Coming from such a small congregation, it's pretty exciting to think about worshiping with thousands of other people!  During the week there are exhibits to look at, gatherings of the different seminaries of the PC(USA), other worship services, meet-and-greets with the stated clerk candidates and others, face-to-face meeting time for churches looking for a new pastor and pastors looking for a new church...and for your FREE time, there are arranged sight-seeing tours of the San Jose area.  I don't expect to be bored-- in fact, I expect to be exhausted!

I love my denomination.  I am (mostly) proud to be a member of a mainline denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and I am greatly looking forward to participating this way in the life of the church.  We have our differences and our problems, but it means a great deal to me to be a part of this part of the body of Christ.  Please pray for our denomination, that we will decide that whatever our differences, creating the kingdom of heaven on earth will only happen if we work together. 

It felt like a case of one step forward, one step back.  For my sermon this past Sunday I decided to use a video clip-- for the first time.  I made sure to get the projector set up and my tech guy-- my husband-- helped me run the sound through the church's sound system.  On Sudnay morning I was a little nervous, but not too much; I felt prepared and ready.  As I preached to Jeff on the way to church, "The worst thing about going to a presentation where video and audio are used is when they haven't really learned how to use the equipment and so there are technical difficulties and people have to sit around in silence waiting for the show to go on."  I was determined that the show would go on!

So I get into worship and everything is going great.  I run the clip and because of our preparation it goes off without a hitch.  And then, just when I'm congratulating myself on pulling it off, I get up to give my sermon and... no manuscript.  My worst nightmare.  I'm not a "without notes" preacher, especially when I've got a lot of other things going on in the service.  I just don't trust my ability to remember what I need to say.  It's not one of my gifts-- and truly, the thought terrifies me (I'm not a natural public speaker at all.) 

10 years ago, even five, I would have been embarassed.  But you know what, I just said, "Ok Lord, I wrote this thing once, help me remember enough of what you wanted me to say to get through."  Was I able to remember it word for word?  No, but by the grace of God I muddled through.  I hit the high points, and then went on to the table of the Lord for communion, just as I had planned.  I don't know if anyone could tell the difference (I'm sure they could, even if they didn't know exactly what was going on.)  But I now know that if it ever happens again, I'll get through it-- and God won't strike me down if it's not perfect.

God gives grace to us all, even preachers!