The Wilful Sunflower

And now that you’ve heard me rant, the Mute Troubadour tells how it’s like from the other side of the coin:

Last night it was mentioned at a meeting that we'd be having a Christmas Day worship service. Not a long one; about 30 minutes or so, singing Christmas hymns, hearing the gospel accounts of Jesus' birth, celebrating the Eucharist together – seems an appropriate thing to do as a church on Christmas morning, and something I've done in every church I've served.

But what was the first thing I heard? "I don't know how many people you'll get on Christmas morning, pastor." I wanted to scream, "My God, that's not the point!!!" Instead I said, "It doesn't matter how many are here. This church will be opened Christmas morning to celebrate the coming of the Lord."

So it's not only the pastors who get caught up in the "numbers game", but others in the church as well. And as I well know from experience, incredible pressure is put on pastors to "get the numbers up." When will we learn just to plant and water, knowing that the increase is God's?

Seriously, reading this reminded me how difficult it is to be a pastor. No wonder our leaders always ask us to pray for them! So if you’re reading this, right now, take a break and say a prayer for your pastor.

Father, I ask that You endow Pastor K. with the wisdom that comes from You, a wisdom that far surpasses the wisdom of men. As he seeks to lead the church, guide his every decision. I pray that when You speak to him, he’ll recognise Your still, small voice and heed it. That as he seeks Your face, You will show him great and mighty things which he does not know (Jer 33:3). Each time he stands up at the front of the church to preach, he will preach Your words, O God. They will not be words chosen in his own human wisdom, but words given to him by the Spirit (I Cor 2:13). I pray Your will be done in his life and Your purposes be carried out. Father, I thank You for watching over Pastor K. Protect him and keep him in the palm of Your hand. In Jesus’ name I ask all this. Amen.

(I may not be in the church any longer, but my former pastor still needs my prayers... don't you think? :) )