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TFC: Misses and Memories – Rev. Dean Miller
This Sunday we’ll depart our historic property. In the midst of the details for the move I’m noting things I’ll miss and remember from my time(s) here. Below is a short list . . . feel free to add to it below in the ‘Comments’ section.
I’ll remember my first time here for worship, the summer of 1984 as a rising high-school senior. We only worshiped in the Historic Church then, there was no air conditioning, and while I enjoyed John Yates the service felt like forever, particularly the prayers. It’s no small irony that I now lead some of those same prayers.
I’ll miss kneeling in both sanctuaries, alone, and praying. It’s powerful to join the thousands who have done the same through the years.
I’ll remember my sons, shortly after we came here on staff, banging away at their own drum sets (TFC pens and hymnals borrowed from the pews) in time with Matt Brown under the shadows of the organ in the newer sanctuary during an 11 am service.
I’ll miss hearing kids from the Day School run through the halls as I work in my office.
I’ll remember being ordained as both a deacon and a priest here in 2007, and watching my little girl be baptized in 2006.
I’ll miss the blessing of hospitality that has showered out of the kitchen downstairs; dinners, receptions, breakfasts, and always a potential left-over snack for a hungry priest.
I’ll remember leading our Sunday evening service, and finishing with the Compline hymn, listening to the glorious acapella voices of eager young adults praising God together.
I’ll miss knowing that my office was once John’s office, and Bill Haley’s office, and decades of earlier priests’ place to pray, prepare, and study.
I’ll remember standing in Nicholson Hall the winter of 1988 as Steve Skancke explained the plans for the vote on building a new sanctuary, and being in the Yates’ home when John returned with the news of the vote to tell Susan. The new expansion passed.
I’ll miss giving tours to visiting friends and explaining the gravestones, the Civil War history, the pews in the Historic Church.
I’ll remember the first time I led anything (summer of 1988, as a summer seminarian) in the Main Sanctuary. It was just reading a Psalm but man I was nervous.
I’ll miss playing hide and seek with my kids in the Historic Church.
What will you miss and remember?
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Peggy Aderton
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Elizabeth Law
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Carol Jackson
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Donna Forester
