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An Authentic Life 1.1 for pdf - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

An Authentic Life 1.1 for pdf - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

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I began work at the church. It was a small old<br />

wooden building that was well maintained. The sanctuary<br />

seated a little over a hundred. I had an office<br />

with a private toilet and an outer office <strong>for</strong> my secretary.<br />

My ministry included a weekly men’s Bible<br />

study breakfast at a local restaurant, and a women’s<br />

lunch time Bible study with the sewing circle I enjoyed<br />

meeting with these people. I <strong>for</strong>med supportive<br />

relationships with area clergy, although I felt there<br />

wasn’t as much comradeship as there was in North<br />

Dakota perhaps due to our isolation there.<br />

The church was in a growing suburb and<br />

wanted to grow too, but we were limited by the<br />

building and parking lot. Leaders were willing to<br />

consider remodeling or relocating. I let the lay leaders<br />

take the lead on this. We went through elaborate<br />

planning retreats and even hired a consultant, but<br />

didn’t manage to change the building or grow.<br />

The music director and I attended a contemporary<br />

church music workshop. We <strong>for</strong>med a church<br />

band, in which I played electric guitar to attract<br />

young people.<br />

My preaching style was improvisational, although<br />

I spent plenty of time preparing. I preached<br />

from a few notes in my Bible, which I kept in my<br />

hand. I moved about the stage wearing a remote mike<br />

that clipped on my lapel. It was a charismatic style I<br />

learned from Larry Peterson, Leontine Kelly, Jeremiah<br />

Wright, Cecil Williams, and others.<br />

I was <strong>for</strong>mally installed as pastor and teacher<br />

close to Thanksgiving. My mother and son visited,<br />

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