Lent Day 44, Thursday, Apr 1, 2021

“Pray for Church and Church Staff”

Today’s Challenge is specifically and selfishly selected to draw attention to your local Church and the Church Staff.  Whether the Church you attend is big or small, all Churches are wondering about Easter this year.  The COVID pandemic wrecked our Easter services last year.  This year, most of us are open, but we still don't know what to expect for Easter and we are praying that we have planned (guessed) appropriately.

This time of year, Church Staff are usually stretched to their breaking point.  If something can break, (ie plumbing, HVAC units, microphones, computers, printers, power supplies, etc), this would be the weekend it would happen.  Somewhere, the preaching pastor would go to the worship center on Saturday morning for last-minute preparations, only to discover a leaking toilet or a faint smell of natural gas.  Within a few minutes of their discovery, the pastor would have already broken all of their Lenten commitments and contacted their entire staff for emergency help.  Such it is for the Church and Church Staff on a normal Easter.  But, as we all know, this ain’t a normal Easter. 

Easter is the biggest day of the year as we recall the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the foundation upon which the entire Christian Church was built.  That kind of pressure is not easy to overcome for Church Staff, especially under pandemic protocols.  The Pastor is already stressed, but when we also add the production of multiple worship services, handouts, newsletters, video graphics, and the unexpected needs of those in crisis, strife, or grief, it can get difficult.  And, of course, stress on the pastor yields pressure on the rest of the staff (and even key volunteers), not to mention their families at home that are waiting to dye Easter Eggs.  Staff usually arrive at Easter needing the grace that only Christ can provide, before waking on the following Monday with the physical and emotional fatigue that has little comparison.

Pray today, then, for Church Staff: your own, and also those you encounter.  Driving past a neighborhood church on the way to the grocery store?  Say a prayer for that Pastor and Staff.  Attending another Church over the weekend?  Pray for that Church their Staff.  Do you regularly pray in the morning or evening?  Pray today for those that lead your church.  Pray that your Pastor and Staff are strengthened, sustained, inspired, and blessed this weekend!  

Oh, yeah, and don’t forget to listen to God in your prayers!  God may reveal ways that you might lighten their load or bless them on Easter!

“Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God's word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith.” - Hebrews 13:7 (ISV).