Ponderings from Pastor Pamela's Pen
By Rev. Pamela Fitkin
Sometimes new things are wonderful: a shiny new bike, new teeth, a new car; I love new dresses! However, sometimes newness causes fear and upset. On May 16th I celebrated being with you for six months and there has been a lot of newness in my life, and a lot of change for me and my family. Professionally speaking there have been lots of changes too, for me especially as I navigate this newest pastoral role.
One of the big changes for me is physically preaching in a new place. The “pulpit” theologically means deep profound things to me as a minister and the position of a pulpit in a sanctuary physically matters. Our deacons have asked me to share with you some of my concerns and struggles with our platform and large pulpit.
The first struggle is the amount of sunshine that comes pouring through the large windows on my right. It has made some Sundays very hard to see my manuscript. Coming to the lower level off the platform has helped me with this.
The second struggle is the stairs going up. There is no handrail and I get nervous going up and down. Several people have mentioned to me they don't want me to make announcements “up there”.
Thirdly, I know how much physicality is used when preaching and I often feel stuck behind the big pulpit. If you watch our services on YouTube, sometimes all you see is my head and other times I cannot be seen because the sunbeams are bouncing off things and I look like a big glowing ball. It looks rather silly.
Lastly, I would like to mention the theological reason I am much more comfortable preaching from the smaller pulpit at the lower level and it is simply because I want to be at the same level as you. I am not above any of you in any respects. The only thing “above” us is the Word of God. One of the first things we are taught as pastors is to be eye level with everyone, never standing above anyone and if you can, with a child, coming right down to where they are, sitting on the floor if needed. Standing above people can be seen as threatening. Being a passionate preacher I am always concerned that being up on the platform appears forbidding. Another example of being level is my church study. As soon as someone enters for a conversation I immediately move from my desk and meet them in the chair beside them; same level, same closeness. My desire is to be closer with all of you, which means preaching at the lower level and using the small pulpit.
The desire to be closer to you includes conversations about things going on at the church – face to face dialogue where we can understand each other's concerns. My study door is always open to you for a chat and prayer.
In closing, I ask for your forgiveness if not putting the large pulpit back after Easter was confusing. You now know why and you now know some of my struggles and concerns, so please bear with me as we work through changes of newness and as we lean into the new mercies God provides daily.
With humility, blessings and love,
Pastor
Pamela
