View from the view - thanks to the pastors

 

A letter to the shepherds of God’s people,

 

Thanks!

 

Many of you are doing it tough right now.

 

You and your family are affected by the rolling lock-downs and are tired of the daily commute to the living room, kitchen, and back yard. Perhaps you are caught up in difficult circumstances at home, your family income may have dropped and maybe you or loved ones have been a Covid contact or contract. And there is the silent grief for that family holiday or wedding, or the relatives or friends who are now just pixels in another zoom call. And the  tension around that daily press conference and the ever-changing restrictions.

 

And then there is church.

 

Like most people, you want to be physically near people, for that’s how God made us. As a pastor you want to invest in the lives of your congregation for caregiving and discipleship. You may be struggling to post a tolerable online service each week. Meanwhile ‘helpful’ members tell you about that church elsewhere that has a fantastic online programme that they and their family watch. Then there are the people who you have been trying to draw in from the margins and who just drift off. And there are the older saints, as loyal as superglue, but whose underlying health makes them loathe to venture out to church again.  There’s another church meeting tonight, but you feel like a zoombie at 10am. Oh – the treasurer called to say that income is a Covid casualty and the accounts are threadbare. Ruefully, you look at your ministry planner and see all those initiatives that were an integral part of the five-year plan – and with a sigh you hit ‘delete’.

 

You knew ministry was tough but weren’t ready to be a fireman or a punching bag. This family that has suddenly exploded over differing views on vaccination. That member who is paralysed by conspiracy theories read on the internet. The year 12 and final year uni students, couples with wedding plans, forthcoming retirees – all these people in various transitions that are now as uncertain as tomorrow’s Covid numbers. The bereaved family wanting a funeral. All around you, people who are angry, fearful, and suspicious and who transfer that to you in various ways.

 

Thank you!

 

Thank you for persisting in ministry. Thank you for the tiring phone calls to catch up with us. Thank you for the deliveries of food and treats to needy people paid from your own pocket. Thank you for praying for us. And thank you for lifting our hearts to the big horizons of God who knows what’s going on before it happens, who is all good and all faithful and who continues to reconcile all things in Christ.

 

Want a word of advice? (Feel free to say ‘no’.)

 

Look after yourself and be kind to yourself and your family. You too are a finite, flawed and needy creature. Eat and drink healthy – and enjoy an occasional treat. Get out to dig the garden, play with the kids, take that walk or run. And especially, hit God’s gym to use the means of grace as you linger in the word, in prayer and in music that sings the Lord’s word into your heart. Please do all this so you stay well and so you have reserve capacity to be God’s fireman and punching bag as we dump our problems on you.

 

Thank you for loving God and his people through these times.