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Thank you for subscribing! This month I decided to release my newsletter on the 15th, for today I officially start my new call at the American Protestant Church of the Hague [APCH]. It has been such a joy preparing to serve this congregation, and preparing for a new a chapter of life with my family in the Netherlands.
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On June 26th we said goodbye to our apartment in Wittenbach. The place that my son Ian has known and called home since he was born. Then for two weeks we vacationed in the beautiful city of Zofingen before taking four trains through three countries to the beautiful city of Den Haag.
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Upon arriving in South Holland we were greeted with warm displays of welcome at the manse. There were cards, flowers, stroopwafels, and short visits and calls from parishioners. There were also messages of encouragement from the staff and former pastors, such as the Rev. Mark Vermaire and the Rev. Dr. Douglas Brouwer.
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Unlike my last two parishes in Switzerland, this one does not require hitting the ground running. Instead, it begins with a gradual start, much like my first parish in Minneapolis. For the first three weeks I will assume my responsibilities at a not-so-fast pace, and focus on getting to know the community that I will minister to and with. This gradual start is also for the sake of my family, who are experiencing huge changes with me in the midst of this transition.
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So far we are enjoying the many changes that have come about, and are, as the Rev. Dr. Brouwer puts it, basking in the honeymoon phase. Of course, there are many changes in the future that will be challenging, and when they come we will face and get through them by God's grace and love. But until then we will simply delight in the present, and I hope that you can do the same as the summer season progresses. I also hope that you will enjoy and be encouraged by my latest post, which can be found in this newsletter.
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Again, many thanks for subscribing, and I wish you a happy and sun-filled summer!
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My New Parish: The American Protestant Church of the Hague
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Since the news of my family's move to the Netherlands was announced, many questions have come in about the congregation that I am now serving. In this post I give some answers to these questions.
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I Still Love My Country: A Prayer for Independence Day
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There are many reasons to lose hope for America, but despite them my fondness of it has not waned.
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UPDATE: Next Stop Netherlands!
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In a few weeks my family and I will embark on a new adventure in Den Haag.
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