22One day Jesus got into a boat with
His disciples, and He said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the
lake.” So they put out, 23and while they were sailing He fell
asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with
water, and they were in danger. 24They went to Him and woke Him up,
shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He woke up and rebuked the
wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. 25He
said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to
one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water,
and they obey Him?” —Luke 8:22-25 (NRSV)
The past few years have been a
challenging time to be the Church of Jesus Christ. Amid growing financial anxiety, church
leaders everywhere have endeavored to maintain the structures, programs and
staffing levels that worked for the church decades ago when resources were more
plentiful.
This past week, the Official
Board accepted the excellent report of our Nominating Committee, chaired by Dr.
Cross, which nominated officers, Ministry Team Chairs and other leaders for the new
program year, beginning July 1. These
leaders await election by the congregation on June 3 at the Congregational
Meeting. I urge you, whether you are a
leader or a follower (or sometimes one and sometimes the other!) to use this
time to pray for all our leaders. In
such a time as this, it is as imperative that we put our lives, and the lives
of our leaders, in the hands of the One who calmed the sea, and who can calm
our anxiety and move us to offer our praise.
A great prayer to use in this process is this prayer for installed
officers, adapted from “Installation of Officers,” in the resource book, Chalice
Worship:
Almighty God, we rejoice that you
have called us to be your people in this time and place. Help us to fulfill the mission to which you
call us as we seek to know what faithfulness requires of us. Strengthen the resolves that have been made
within our congregation. Uphold your
leaders with hope and encouragement that they may endure every frustrating
difficulty. Fill this congregation with
your loving Spirit that each person may work together harmoniously so that all
members may work together for the common good and to your glory. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
Imagine if twenty, thirty or even
fifty people committed to pray this prayer daily! I wonder…if God will do something in each of
us, and in all of us together, just because we have prayed this prayer of
intercession for our leaders. Actually,
I know God is already doing it, even as we consider this request.
I look forward to greeting you at
the church door or wherever we gather to engage in ministry together,
Pastor Paul
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