12/06/2020
Pastoring through a pandemic #13
Transparent moment in real time. It is 4:15am on Sunday morning, December 6, 2020. Been up since 3am, reviewing notes for preaching and praying over the message. Glancing at the clock, knowing I will not fall back asleep. Side note (It appears that Sherry is sleeping and snoring for the both of us).
The wrestling point as a pastor is with the following: will pandemic pastoring become the norm; am I waiting in vain for the return of what will not be? How do I adjust my mind and style of pastoring to meet the needs of the 2020/2021 saints?
How do I cope with not being able to attend some funerals due to COVID19 restraints? Will members really understand? How do I cope with not being able to visit people as in the past? Will members really understand? How do I try to take care of myself/ keep myself healthy and my family during a season of the unknown? Will members really understand? Do they really know that perhaps while they are sleep that I am really up praying for the ones who are sick right now, the shut-in elderly, the loose living young ones, the ones who are going thru bereavement, the ones who are presently battling the results of this pandemic, the ones who I’ve not seen and don’t see online, etc. etc.
Pastoring through a pandemic is getting to be a little tougher than I thought. The season appears not to be changing; but rather, the season appears to be settling in like a cold winter. I am starting to worry and wonder about this wilderness experience. My faith and confidence in God is at an all time high; but it is the sheep of His pasture that is causing me the concern. My prayer is that they not scatter! The devil is taking advantage of this season and making it convenient for them to scatter; but MY PRAYER IS THAT THEY NOT SCATTER!!
Well, pre-pandemic I would be planning for a new year during the month of December. You know, the church calendar, the new year goals, the preaching calendar, the church budget, the ministries in which to engage, the appointments of leadership, etc. But since we are in the middle of a pandemic, it is somewhat challenging to make such plans. Don’t know the answer to this yet. I have decided not to stress or try to force any pre-mature plans but rather I’ve decided to force myself to pray it through and trust God. (His ways are not our ways/His calendar is not our calendar). We will see what happens.
Maybe I should take the advice of one of my members, Bro. Lee Magee. I was checking on him yesterday and he said, “Pastor, I have not been down this road before and I don’t know all that is on this road but I do know who is at the end of the road.” That is it; Pastoring through this pandemic is tough but we are still on the road and if we keep going we will soon find Jesus in it all. I am praying for you, Pastor.
Another challenging Saturday night/early Sunday morning; time to get up and go preach to a camera through which you hope scattered members will gather on the other side.
Blessings!
