Absolutely and AMEN, Pastor Lesli. Zoom with WCRC has been such a blessing for us during the Pandemic, allowing us to be 'in church' with others at the same time, creating that sense of community that was so missing when the churches got shut down. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to WCRC for what you did and how you have been so invitational to all. And yes, the part I liked so so very much was the after service sermon discussion time which I hope WCRC figures out how to continue with this even when they are back in-person.
I am not a pastor, nor have I had any ministry training, other than to sit under my pastor's mentoring the last four years. So I can't speak into your life as a pastor, but I can share with you what Christ has been up to in my life these past few months as I have experienced grief through loss - loss of my mentor, loss of our pastor, loss of a sense of what I was doing in ministry at our church.
I have been in the first place - in the hallway pretending to be unseen, keeping to myself, but this is not who I am, so I didn't remain there long. I have been in the second place you mentioned - the flight response. Just wanting to run away from it all and get as far away as I could. I was really tempted to do this, but in my heart I knew that it was not the solution God was calling me to. So I had come to the conclusion that I had to do what you listed as your third option, seek help from Christ mostly, but from others too - friends, and others in ministry. And that is what I have been doing.
Because of COVID 19 I have had less work to do and more time to spend in prayer, both speaking with Christ and listening to his Spirit speaking with me. This has been a very rich experience for me. And he has been giving me peace, the peace that passes understanding. I have been leaning into participating in more spiritual disciplines, and through these I have seen Christ shaping hope in me. Three weeks ago he gave me this verse, This is the day that the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. And I made a decision that I had to live into that JOY (because I hadn't been). It was hard at first, bumps along the way, but I am able to live into the JOY today. I have been asking Jesus questions about the ministry work and he has been giving me answers. And with the answers he has been renewing hope in me.
I am reading a book by Ortberg - If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat. I feel that my decision to live into JOY every day was me getting out of the boat. And Christ has been holding me above the water and the waves.
A friend of mine shared her story with me, the story of the cracked jar of clay (that you mentioned). Christ gave her a picture of herself as that cracked jar of clay and out of the cracks a brilliant light was shining that made that cracked jar of clay resplendent. And Christ told her that he is the one shining through her cracks as she gives her life daily and moment by moment to the potter to allow him to shape her according the image of Christ in her. And though she is dull and cracked, that is okay because Christ within her shines bright.
In my hurt, in my confusion and not knowing what lies ahead, and what direction God has in store for me, I have learned to be still, to wait on the LORD. Patience is not something I am great at, but I am learning that God's timing is best and he knows best, and I am learning to trust him completely. And what a freeing experience that is!
His Word is my bread every day - full of nourishment and goodness, life and vibrancy. I breathe in His Spirit and allow Christ to fill me with hope.
I pray that you too will find healing for your soul.
This Lent Beatitudes Devotional was developed to encourage our entire congregation to engage in the Beatitudes during Lent and leading into Easter. Each week's devotion is focused on one of the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. Some of the activity challenges are specific to our community but easily adaptable to any community. Our hope is that as we are blessed in Christ we would use what Jesus has given us to bless our community.
A number of years ago Focus on the Family had designated October as Pastor Appreciation Month. Though I think we should appreciate our pastors all the time, it is good to make that extra effort to show your appreciation to your pastor as a congregation, and why not in October!
One year we secretly planned an appreciation Sunday and on that Sunday we showed our pastor our appreciation through gifts, spoken words of appreciation, songs, and laughter. Other years I have encouraged members of the congregation to flood the pastor with cards showing their thanks and appreciation.
Our pastors are worthy of our thanks and appreciation. Thank you, Lis, for reminding us to thank our pastors.
I am laughing cause I was really on the ball and planned our first night of youth for September on the first Friday. I had planned a night at the home of one of our members for dinner, sharing a faith story based on the building blocks of faith, and time for games. A few nights before the event one of the parents informed me that the Christian school had their opening bbq that same night! Being new to the community I did know this. All our juniors were going to the school bbq! Well the seniors and leaders enjoyed the dinner and some of our juniors joined us later in the evening. Lesson learned: check out what else is happening in our students lives prior to planning special events.
Posted in: Zoom Practices I Hope We Keep in the Return to In-Person Worship
Absolutely and AMEN, Pastor Lesli. Zoom with WCRC has been such a blessing for us during the Pandemic, allowing us to be 'in church' with others at the same time, creating that sense of community that was so missing when the churches got shut down. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to WCRC for what you did and how you have been so invitational to all. And yes, the part I liked so so very much was the after service sermon discussion time which I hope WCRC figures out how to continue with this even when they are back in-person.
Posted in: Giveaway Time! Just Say "Hi" and Be Entered to Win Best-Selling Book
Hi, hello, hola, shalom!
Posted in: The 'In Between' Time: Transitions
Hello Joel,
I am not a pastor, nor have I had any ministry training, other than to sit under my pastor's mentoring the last four years. So I can't speak into your life as a pastor, but I can share with you what Christ has been up to in my life these past few months as I have experienced grief through loss - loss of my mentor, loss of our pastor, loss of a sense of what I was doing in ministry at our church.
I have been in the first place - in the hallway pretending to be unseen, keeping to myself, but this is not who I am, so I didn't remain there long. I have been in the second place you mentioned - the flight response. Just wanting to run away from it all and get as far away as I could. I was really tempted to do this, but in my heart I knew that it was not the solution God was calling me to. So I had come to the conclusion that I had to do what you listed as your third option, seek help from Christ mostly, but from others too - friends, and others in ministry. And that is what I have been doing.
Because of COVID 19 I have had less work to do and more time to spend in prayer, both speaking with Christ and listening to his Spirit speaking with me. This has been a very rich experience for me. And he has been giving me peace, the peace that passes understanding. I have been leaning into participating in more spiritual disciplines, and through these I have seen Christ shaping hope in me. Three weeks ago he gave me this verse, This is the day that the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. And I made a decision that I had to live into that JOY (because I hadn't been). It was hard at first, bumps along the way, but I am able to live into the JOY today. I have been asking Jesus questions about the ministry work and he has been giving me answers. And with the answers he has been renewing hope in me.
I am reading a book by Ortberg - If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat. I feel that my decision to live into JOY every day was me getting out of the boat. And Christ has been holding me above the water and the waves.
A friend of mine shared her story with me, the story of the cracked jar of clay (that you mentioned). Christ gave her a picture of herself as that cracked jar of clay and out of the cracks a brilliant light was shining that made that cracked jar of clay resplendent. And Christ told her that he is the one shining through her cracks as she gives her life daily and moment by moment to the potter to allow him to shape her according the image of Christ in her. And though she is dull and cracked, that is okay because Christ within her shines bright.
In my hurt, in my confusion and not knowing what lies ahead, and what direction God has in store for me, I have learned to be still, to wait on the LORD. Patience is not something I am great at, but I am learning that God's timing is best and he knows best, and I am learning to trust him completely. And what a freeing experience that is!
His Word is my bread every day - full of nourishment and goodness, life and vibrancy. I breathe in His Spirit and allow Christ to fill me with hope.
I pray that you too will find healing for your soul.
Shalom, Aviva
Posted in: Lent Resources? Share Them Here
This Lent Beatitudes Devotional was developed to encourage our entire congregation to engage in the Beatitudes during Lent and leading into Easter. Each week's devotion is focused on one of the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. Some of the activity challenges are specific to our community but easily adaptable to any community. Our hope is that as we are blessed in Christ we would use what Jesus has given us to bless our community.
Posted in: Just a Note to Say Thanks
A number of years ago Focus on the Family had designated October as Pastor Appreciation Month. Though I think we should appreciate our pastors all the time, it is good to make that extra effort to show your appreciation to your pastor as a congregation, and why not in October!
One year we secretly planned an appreciation Sunday and on that Sunday we showed our pastor our appreciation through gifts, spoken words of appreciation, songs, and laughter.
Other years I have encouraged members of the congregation to flood the pastor with cards showing their thanks and appreciation.
Our pastors are worthy of our thanks and appreciation. Thank you, Lis, for reminding us to thank our pastors.
Posted in: October Is the New September
I am laughing cause I was really on the ball and planned our first night of youth for September on the first Friday. I had planned a night at the home of one of our members for dinner, sharing a faith story based on the building blocks of faith, and time for games. A few nights before the event one of the parents informed me that the Christian school had their opening bbq that same night! Being new to the community I did know this. All our juniors were going to the school bbq! Well the seniors and leaders enjoyed the dinner and some of our juniors joined us later in the evening. Lesson learned: check out what else is happening in our students lives prior to planning special events.