Sleepless in Ruckersville… 5 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. When I first started writing this post, it began: “Just under 4 weeks now, before the beginning of our shadowing Francis Asbury’s circuit of 1791. My checklist of tasks to complete before our departure is getting longer and longer (it is growing faster than the pace of my checkmarks).”
So, let’s start over… just 4 days now, before the beginning of our “Asbury Adventure” and there remains many items of that checklist to be completed. Such is the life of the pastor of three churches. In the past 3 weeks, I have attended three council meetings (one for each church), reviewed with them the requirements for their upcoming Charge Conferences to be held in October, about 2 weeks after my return from leave. I’ve joined with many others of the North Garden Area Christian Community in completing preparations for this year’s Family Faith & Fun day this past Saturday (which was a resounding success). I have brought to a conclusion this Summer’s worship series: a 10 week series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (John Wesley did it in 13 discourses). I’ve attended two meetings of the District Committee on Ordained Ministry. And I have completed a myriad of tasks to prepare both my churches and myself for this time of leave. Many thanks to Rev. John Conway for filling in for me while on leave – the Monacan Trail Cooperative Parish is in good hands!
This Saturday, JoAnne and I will stop for a while in Richmond to visit with Kristin & Rebecca and then head on to Chesapeake, VA. In the first week of 1791, Asbury visited Jolliff’s meeting house on Craney Island (just west of Chesapeake, VA).
On our first Sunday, we will be worshipping at Jolliff United Methodist Church, also on Craney Island. Pastor Paul Oh will be on vacation, but he told me he would alert his lay leaders to our visit. In keeping with the spirit of remaining in “the shadow” of Asbury’s travels, we will not take Interstate 64 from Richmond to Chesapeake, but instead, will travel to Jamestown and take the ferry across the James River (as Asbury did on December 31, 1790). Asbury records this passage in his journal:
Friday, 31. I came on to the Jamestown ferry, chilled with the cold. We had to ride seven miles; the wind was high about the time we embarked; presently a snow storm came on; and although wind and tide were in our favour, we had rough work in crossing. Our horses were smooth, the bottom of the boat icy; so that it was with difficulty they could keep their feet; however, kind Providence brought us safe to Cobham, whence we hasted along to brother Mooring’s, and found brother Paup speaking, and the people shouting.
Fortunately, we won’t be expecting to encounter snow this Saturday. From Jolliff, we’ll be headed to Currituck, NC (on the mainland) – where Asbury preached from the steps of the courthouse there.
Don’t forget to subscribe for email updates to this blog so you won’t miss reflections during our adventure. You should also follow us on Facebook, at our In the Shadow of a Prophet page. I will be cross posting on these platforms. Most likely, longer posts will be here, in my blog… shorter ones and photo shares will appear on Facebook.
-Pastor Tim
Pastor Tim's Thoughts 
Leave a comment