It is tough to balance work, family, and church. So when I accepted my congregation’s nomination to represent them at the 2011 Synod Assembly last January, I didn’t know at the time that I would be sandwiched between business trips. And I couldn’t step down since I will be participating in a sending service for the 2011 Churchwide Assembly. So I drove out (by myself since I had to drive to Pittsburgh afterwards for business), determined to find out what God had in store for me.
Rochester is a great beer town, and over the years I developed my own personal routine. I don’t participate in the meal plan. I like the flexibility of going out where the food is better and cheaper (but not paid for by the church), but I do miss out in some of the socializing. So on the way in I stopped by MacGregor’s to see what they had on tap. I got the Bear Republic Old Scooter, an aged barleywine that was a little on the sweet side. The people were nice, but I needed to head over to my next stop, Beers of the World. This beer store is essential because it has been my experience that the fellowship events have limited beverage choices. So I picked up some Full Sail beers (Imperial Porter and Bump in the Night), as well as a Pretty Things Field Mouse Farewell. These proved to be beneficial later on. I checked in (what a hassle: still need the tax exempt form and POP needed to juggle to provide a requested single room (believe me, it’s best for everyone)), and then headed out to dinner (no
meal plan remember). I went to the Tap & Mallet (http://www.tapandmallet.com/) , a great beer bar close to downtown. I had the steamed mussels, steamed in pale ale with pulled pork and kimchi. The combination was bizarre, but delicious. I tried the Custom Brewcrafters Unfiltered Rye on cask, and loved it. And now that I was well fed, it was off to the assembly.
This year’s theme was “Empowered to Serve.” This has special meaning for me, since I always saw Christ as a Servant Leader, the perfect example for his followers. I feel that I’ve been lacking in this area recently, but we were able to hear about the ELCA supporting the fight against world hunger and disaster relief. We finished the first plenary session on Sunday and then hung out late into the next morning. Monday was more of the same, and we were able to hear about both advocacy and social ministries in the morning. I skipped over (yes, I literally skipped) over to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for lunch and had a Pork Sket sandwich (beef brisket with cheese and pickled jalapenos) and a Rohrbach Irish Cream Ale. The afternoon was reserved for workshops. I learned how we can better protect our children from sexual predators and about the statement on Genetics that will be presented at the National Assembly. Both sessions were well presented and informative. Off to dinner, and headed to my favorite English Pub, the Old Toad (http://www.theoldtoad.com/) . The bar is owned by the same owner as the Fat Cat in Sheffield, UK, and the wait staff was all from there also. The beer was great; I had the Custom Brewcrafters Canandaigua Ale on cask and a Mikkeller I Hardcore U on draft. I started with their Drunken Cheddar soup (made with Fuller’s ESB) and then had the fish and chips (with mushy peas, of course). The food and the atmosphere made dinner special, and I loved sharing experiences with the staff about their hometown.
That night came the favorite part of assembly, worship service. The energy in the room was contagious, singing some of my favorite contemporary and traditional songs. My church is wrestling with this type of “blended service”, but it was so natural at the assembly. It should have been clear to everyone there that you need to mix it up to inspire the youth. The next we wrapped up with some voting (got to love parliamentary procedures) and the sending ceremony. I got to go up on stage and Bishop Marie presented us with prayer shawls, so we can wrap ourselves in the prayers while we are away. It was great to visit old friends (Biegnor, PC, and the former Jim, Dean) and spend time with others (VB, Pastor Jeff, Deacon Guz, and the former Jen Cuila). I’m glad I went. – 5785/10821
"It is better to think of church in the alehouse then to think of the alehouse in church." – Martin Luther
Rochester is a great beer town, and over the years I developed my own personal routine. I don’t participate in the meal plan. I like the flexibility of going out where the food is better and cheaper (but not paid for by the church), but I do miss out in some of the socializing. So on the way in I stopped by MacGregor’s to see what they had on tap. I got the Bear Republic Old Scooter, an aged barleywine that was a little on the sweet side. The people were nice, but I needed to head over to my next stop, Beers of the World. This beer store is essential because it has been my experience that the fellowship events have limited beverage choices. So I picked up some Full Sail beers (Imperial Porter and Bump in the Night), as well as a Pretty Things Field Mouse Farewell. These proved to be beneficial later on. I checked in (what a hassle: still need the tax exempt form and POP needed to juggle to provide a requested single room (believe me, it’s best for everyone)), and then headed out to dinner (no
meal plan remember). I went to the Tap & Mallet (http://www.tapandmallet.com/) , a great beer bar close to downtown. I had the steamed mussels, steamed in pale ale with pulled pork and kimchi. The combination was bizarre, but delicious. I tried the Custom Brewcrafters Unfiltered Rye on cask, and loved it. And now that I was well fed, it was off to the assembly.
That night came the favorite part of assembly, worship service. The energy in the room was contagious, singing some of my favorite contemporary and traditional songs. My church is wrestling with this type of “blended service”, but it was so natural at the assembly. It should have been clear to everyone there that you need to mix it up to inspire the youth. The next we wrapped up with some voting (got to love parliamentary procedures) and the sending ceremony. I got to go up on stage and Bishop Marie presented us with prayer shawls, so we can wrap ourselves in the prayers while we are away. It was great to visit old friends (Biegnor, PC, and the former Jim, Dean) and spend time with others (VB, Pastor Jeff, Deacon Guz, and the former Jen Cuila). I’m glad I went. – 5785/10821"It is better to think of church in the alehouse then to think of the alehouse in church." – Martin Luther
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