Report of the Pastor - 2020
2020 has been difficult; God has been better. I’m tempted to end this report at that point because an additional 2,020 words are not going to get me to a better conclusion. As a pastor, I am greatly blessed to serve this amazing church, but I am also tired. Last night I wrote an email about a recent (and thankfully our first) Covid-19 positive case of a person who has been on site with the salutation “I’m Christ.” Auto correct is not my friend, but thankfully our Director of Communication, Cortni, is and she faithfully changed it to the much more appropriate “In Christ” before general distribution to the entire congregation. Which means my “Continuing Education Report” is now -
During this past year I have learned that I am not God.
Overall 2020 has provided me with a huge learning curve.
Here are the highlights of what I have come to understand in a new way:
- Pivoted from talking to people to talking to a camera
- Communication, communication, communication - along with communication became the most important part of my job
- Read CDC guidelines for the first time ever
- Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and so on….
- Appreciated being alive
- Appreciated more than ever the faithful commitment of this congregation
Despite the incredible obstacles this year has brought, Denver has thrived in many ways. We have solidified our staff, added new members, and even managed to expand our ministry footprint. We canceled, then rebooted a capital campaign, are on the cusp of exciting new property expansions, and are seeing the goodness of God in our present circumstances.
In a great many ways, we are stronger than ever which is a testament to God’s faithfulness. I gratefully submit this brief report, thankful for the team of church staff that I am a part of, for the lay leadership that has always been up to the task of taking on a challenge, and for the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit who has left me with this conclusion: “2020 has been difficult, God has been better.”
Steve Autrey
Denver UMC