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Contentment among the Christmas Trees

Contentment among the Christmas Trees

Every pastor frets from time to time about preparing for retirement, and most pastors occasionally long to do something distinctly nonministerial, even while still serving a pastorate. I found a way to accomplish both at the same time.

When the Lord called me into the pastorate, I left my science teaching position of seven years and all the retirement benefits I'd accrued. Six months after completing graduate school, we were settled into the parsonage of a small New England church and excited about ministry.

However, after seven years in the church, I sensed a need to develop interests outside the congregation. I'd always loved the outdoors. Years earlier I'd considered buying an old Christmas tree farm. In addition, l was becoming more aware that we couldn't spend the rest of our lives in a church-owned house. Perhaps we could purchase some land to begin a Christmas tree farm and provide a site for a future home.

We prayed for the Lord's leading and started to look for ...

May/June
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