Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
Blog Number 38
November 18, 2019
Recharging The Clergy’s Spiritual Batteries
Yesterday my daughter was installed as the new pastor of the First Reformed Church of Boonton, NJ. It was a wonderful event. Folks from her new congregation were joined by members of her new Classis as well as old friends from various churches and congregations in the area. I had a most wonderful time with old friends and making new friends. The worship service was inspiring and I enjoyed sitting in the pew to receive communion instead of being the one who presides over the sacrament. It was refreshing to be able to sit and partake. Holding one of my grandsons during the service made it even more special.
How does a minister worship? Ministers by nature are leading worship but how do they get the opportunity to sit and worship, to be nurtured by singing and praying? Where do ministers recharge their spiritual batteries?
Lately I have been reading many reports of “ministerial burn out.” I don’t know why I have to read such reports. I sometimes feel it and know colleagues who have experienced “burn out.” It is no wonder. The clergy sexual scandals that have, too often, occurred, have caused many people to dis-trust all clergy. Once held in high-esteem, ministers are no longer looked up to as they once were. Churches were full a generation ago but now fewer people hold church participation as important.
So, where does a minister go to worship and pray? I wonder if all of us ought to find churches with different worship times to attend where we can simply sit, worship, sing and pray. Perhaps we do this too rarely. Worship is good for all, including the clergy. Sitting at worship might do all of us who are ordained a great deal of good. Maybe this should be a goal for all of us. When we recharge our spiritual batteries, we will do others a great deal of good.
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To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please order a copy of his book: https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/
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