So long and thanks for all the (loaves and) fish

Last Vestry meeting last night. Not particularly noteworthy — approved next year’s budget, made some plans, discussed this and that. I reported on the nominees that will stand for election to Vestry in a week or two at the Annual Meeting. There was a bit of sentiment as the outgoing members present (myself, Michelle, Kees) were given thanks and a standing round of applause.

And out of there by 8:30p. I said the closing prayer, helped clean up, and that was about it.

I won’t miss the job, to be honest. Though in theory one evening meeting a month sounds trivial, that represents almost 5% of my weekday evenings in a given month. And there were periods where we were meeting a lot more frequently in there, either during crises or during budget cycles. Plus, as a Vestry member, I had a whole slew of other fun assignments lobbed my way.

On the other hand, I’ll miss the people. There was discussion about the Vestry retreat next month, which will include the new nominees. Those were always a blast, both as an opportunity for spiritual exploration and as a chance to just hang out and socialize.

Not that those people are going away. And not that the parish leadership is going to let me fade off into the sunset without asking me to help in other ways. But it won’t be — quite — the same.

I’ll have served on Vestry for four years there, close to half or more of the total time I’ve attended Good Shepherd. I won’t miss making the announcement to Margie that “I have Vestry tonight.” But I’ll miss not being part of that group.