Calling Pastor Graeme

After a quiet morning at home (in which Nick helped me dye my hair brown [not the intended outcome]), and lunch of tuna steaks, chips and beans, we took the boys to Luca’s birthday party in town. The theme was pirates, but since we were heading directly off to church during the party we didn’t even think of dressing them up. There were spare hats and props though so the boys didn’t feel out of place as they participated in a treasure hunt, floated boats and eating. We left at 1.45 for church, leaving the party in full swing. The Sandy Bay chapel was nicely packed out in anticipation of the special meeting. Nick led the first part of the service, then we tuned our ears to the CD player as Graeme Beckett preached for us. After the service Steve conducted the official members’ meeting, giving a very nice biographical sketch of Graeme, with Maureen including a few details about his wife Hazel as well. The vote to call Graeme as the next pastor of the St Helena Baptist Church was conducted by show of hands, and it was unanimous (of course!). The show of hands in the photo is deceptive, as only members could vote. We are very excited about the upcoming events as we wait for Graeme and Hazel to arrive on 30 November. After church we called in at Steve and Maureen so we could be with them when they phoned G&H with the news. I couldn’t believe that they wanted us to have a cup of tea first!! Having just been through the process of waiting for the call I was imagining the new pastoral couple sitting by their phone, anxiously waiting to hear the news. By the time we phoned they were in their evening church service, so Steve left a message and then e-mailed them after we had left. Had a great visit with S&M though, good to catch up and chat. We will miss them – Maureen has been one of my ‘island moms’.