The parsonage battle

Saying for the Day: Never make threats you can't carry out.

I started this thread several weeks ago as stories from the parsonage.
What it has turned into is not so much stories from the parsonage as stories about parsonages.

After we had been in the parish about three months the parish board decided we needed a new parsonage.
I did not request one or complain about the one they had but they knew the condition it was in . The people in the Trout Creek Church were against the new parsonage because they wanted the parsonage to stay in Trout Creek and the new one was to be built in Ewen , behind the church.
But the Ewen Church paid the larger share of the parish bills so Trout Creek gave in.

At the same time there was a vote on school consolidation and an anonymous pamphlet was sent to every home the day before filled with half truths.
The consolidation lost.
I denounced the way in which the pamphlet was done in the parish newsletter .
It seems that some of those involved were member of the Ewen congregation.

They wanted our input on the new parsonage and I told them that since Betty was pregnant we would like the space they had marked off for a half a bath set up as a laundry room instead.
They seemed to agree to this but that night one of the people that had sent out the pamphlet went into the new building and pushed a hall closet into part of the space.
This did not leave enough room for a laundry room but only a half a bath.
There was no closet in the plans.

When I saw what they had done I made the strangest threat in the history of the parish.
I threatened not to move until there was an upstairs laundry room.
I would stay in the Trout Creek parsonage.
The people in Trout Creek had no objection.
The Ewen congregation would have an empty parsonage.

Two days later they discovered they could push into the garage and create a space for a washer and dryer across from the new closet.
It worked out fine and we moved in as soon as the building was finished.

I know of pastors who threatened to move if they didn’t get what they wanted but I’m the only one I know of that threatened not to move.

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News from Pigeon Falls– the little town in my backyard where the trains still run and little old ladies hunt rabbits.-The rabbit for Mayor sweaters are in at wink’s and Tommy bought one of the first ones. He is wearing it proudly. People are becoming a bit afraid that they might end up with a 2 1/2 foot rabbit as Mayor. Perhaps Mrs. Trumble will run some negative adds. Not that she wants to be Mayor but she certainly doesn’t want a demon to be in the office. Its enough to have demons in state and national offices without having the local mayor be one as well.
Nancy says some people have suggested Big Rudy for Mayor. He has reformed and doing so many good things. Big Rudy says he can’t because his wife doesn’t want him too. The poor guy only does what his wife tells him too.
Nancy says that everybody that has stopped in for coffee is planning on going to the school board meeting tonight. They all have ideas as to names for the school teams. Nobody seems to like “New Potatoes”. Nancy has heard “Wolves, Dragons, Green Dragons, Bears, Trojans, Knights, and Thorns” as possible names. She is glad she isn’t on the school board.
The White Rabbit continues to be seen in his new red ,white and blue sweater carrying his Mayor sign. He hasn’t started coming in to town and kissing babies yet. But he has been seen a lot. Mrs. Trumble seems to have given up trying to catch up with him. Nobody has seen her all day. Of course she could be hiding somewhere waiting to jump out and shoot the rabbit. That thought makes everybody nervous.
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Link for the Day: Procrastination At It's Best- Remember to leave the words Dr. John in your comment to get those never ready JCPOINTS. Check HERE for your totals.
I spent part of the day working on a new top ten list for the church web site. Betty washed the litchen floor and brought the stuff to recycle up to the pick up place. I just checked in and my link for the day has changed material since I looked this morning. The new entry might be upsetting to some. This linking stuff has its problems. My sister Dawn called to see if we had sold the house. We , of course, have not. Don't ask me why ask the real estate agent. Well I need a breathing treatment.
GBYA