Praying for Harmonious Work

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

Shepherds, Why This Jubilee? Why Your Joyous Strains Prolong?

Riley is a fourth-grader who was cast as a “Shepherd” for Sunday’s Christmas program in church. He also had a solo. He had been practicing “Angels We Have Heard On High,” and he needed someone to accompany him on guitar, so I offered to play. On a chilly afternoon earlier this week, Riley sang for me while I played the chords of the familiar carol. His clear boy-soprano tones filled the rehearsal space, but he was struggling with the words to the second verse. Suddenly, it dawned on me to teach what my drama coach had taught me back in seminary: to read the words with exaggerated meaning and to sustain them from the muscles in the gut rather than the throat. Besides, I thought, if Riley really understood the words, he would remember them and sing them with more feeling. So I shouted to Riley, “Repeat after me! Shepherds, why this jubilee?” He said back, “Shepherds…why…this jubilee?” It became like a game. “Why your joyous strains prolong?” We asked each question of the carol back and forth, as if the shepherds were across the room dancing a jig and jumping for joy: “Say what gladsome tidings be…” We were almost shouting now. “…which inspire your heavenly song?”

The shepherds were dancing and shouting that the Messiah – the child God was going to send to reign over all the world – was about to be born! And there we were: if Riley sang clear enough, and I played well enough, we imagined ourselves joining the jubilant shepherd band as they literally skipped and spun, danced and dashed, toward a birthplace still unseen.

Riley sang it through one more time. Every word was clear and his notes were sharp and true. I smiled knowing this "shepherd boy" had experienced the story for himself. On this Third Sunday in Advent, Sunday, December 11, our worship service will begin at 10:30 as usual, but soon “the usual" will end and “The Christmas Story,” will be told by our children and youth, in word and song! Be there, and watch as the story comes alive for us. You may just return to your life “glorifying and praising God for all you have heard and seen!” (Luke 2:19)

I look forward to lighting candles and singing carols and sharing the world’s greatest story with you in church and in the places where we share ministry together!

"Pastor Paul"