I am weary.

[RevCheesehead]

Today is Good Friday. We had church last night, and we will have church again tonight. Saturday is a day of decorating - eggs and the sanctuary. Sunday is the 7 am sunrise service, breakfast, then 8:30 service at one church (20 miles away), and the 10:15 service at the other church.

This is what Holy Week looks like for many clergy. By the time we finish with the last Easter Alleluia, we are completely exhausted. But because we are faithful, we go on. That's part of the deal.

But this year, things are different. This year, we have seen astonishing things: a stolen election, a heartless and cruel budget, tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of the poor. Torture is acceptable for our enemies. There were no WMD's. Over 1,600 American service people have died. We have no idea how many Iraqis have died.

People have lost hope in the future. One needs only to look at the acts of violence and hatred: school shootings, church shootings, attacks on judges.... Everyone's fuse is getting shorter, and it seems that we are on the verge of annihilating ourselves.

Our government leaders have failed us. They would rather investigate the use of steroids in baseball, or join in the political aggrandizing over the life (or death) of one woman. Gas prices rise, people continue to go without insurance, prescription drugs, or even the basic essential of food.

If ever we needed a savior, it would be now.

Yet, as I look out at my two small congregations, I can't help but wonder where the young and middle-aged people are. I see the care-worn faces of those with grey hair, and know that their hearts contain wisdom and love. They are near the end of their journey, and have found a serenity which eludes me. They have lived through more trying times: the Depression, World War II, the Cold War, Vietnam...
They know that no matter how hopeless things look, we will somehow manage to survive. God has always been faithful, and will continue to walk with us through this time of fear.

After last night's service, a 65-year-old man approached me, and reminded me of that. While I was preaching about love in the face of fear, Terri Schiavo and the cultural fear of death, and the assurance of God's love - Amiel was remembering. He told me about the things he remembered, and how desperate people were during those times of trial. "All I can say," he told me, "is that this, too, will pass."

Oddly enough, Amiel was one of the younger people there last night. What saddens me is that people my age (and younger) probably will not benefit from Amiel's wisdom. They don't know him, or his story. They only know of their individual struggles. For some of them, their challenges are extraordinary: poverty, domestic violence, illness, unemployment, etc.

But they should know him. They should know the stories of all of these people, because the lives they have led are filled with meaning and value. They can give us something we all need: hope. Hope in remembering the past, with gratitude. Hope in looking at our present state of affairs, with the assurance that we will get through it. Hope in a future that we cannot see, and a future in which their own participation is unlikely.

I don't know about you, but I need that kind of wisdom.

[Kat45]

1. I know what you mean.

I also notice that it is mostly old folks who attend church faithfully. My church, fortunately, has been attracting a lot of young families in recent years. They hear about all the programs for children and choose to come to my church. But they often just participate in the things that involve families and don't really know the older people. And there are very few single people in the church at all. I've always been comfortable talking to elderly folks (and they generally take to me)--more so than talking to children--and I've made a point of talking to them and getting to know them. They do have so much to offer and some of them don't feel as comfortable in the church they've been at for years because they don't know the younger folks at all. I've been trying to think of events I could set up that would bring various ages together, but I haven't yet come up with something that would generate enough interest for people to attend.

I also know what you mean about the busyness of this season. I work as the office administrator at a different church, and this week I had to do a bulletin for Maundy Thursday, two for Good Friday, one for the Easter Vigil on Saturday night, and two for Sunday Easter services. Plus the list of people for whom the flowers were donated. I'm so relieved that my work week is over now. Hugs to you since yours continues.

:hug:

[RevCheesehead]

2. Don't forget to hug your pastors, too!

Thank you for the hug! :hug:

Remember, everyone, to thank your pastor for all he or she does. They will really appreciate the words of encouragement.

[polmaven]

3. I'm very glad you said that.

I think we too often take our pastors for granted.

Some feel that you are doing the job that you are paid to do, and that paycheck should be thanks enough. I'll bet (I know, I know..no "betting" in Methodism ;-))not many of those types would want to do their own jobs if they never had any thanks or encouragement.

Most of the pastors I know go WAY beyond their "jobs". Your hearts and souls go into the churches you are serving. One of our pastors, many years ago, the one who is actually the reason I joined that church in the first place, reminded us that you all need to be able to talk it out too. I will make a pledge to you that I have, and will continue to try to be there for my pastor, whomever she or he may be in the future.... I'm going to go out on a limb here, though...Easter Sunday service will renew and revitalize your soul...Am I right?

:hug:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. One thing that seems to work is not having any fixed groups that

are specific to age or marital status, other than for the under-18 crowd.

For example, instead of having a senior citizens' group and a couples' group, have a "feed the hungry" group and an environmental action group and a Bible study group and a contemplative prayer group and a groundskeeping group and so on.

That way, no one is made to feel "that group isn't for people like me," and the church doesn't have to worry about not having a group for a specific kind of person.

The age range serving our meals for the homeless is about 7 to 70.

My church does a really neat thing to involve the youth. Episcopalians like processions, so a woman in the parish has recruited and trained a bunch of teens to serve as banner carriers, torch bearers, crucifers, and Communion assistants. They're scheduled for different Sundays, and at any one service, there are six to ten teens carrying things in procession or directing traffic and helping older people up the steps during Communion. When we did our reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday, a teenage girl was narrator.

The youth also run a coffeehouse that is open between services and gives people a place to hang out if they arrive early.

[Maat]

4. Hang in there, Rev.!

I have a feeling people are going to need services and community more than ever this year.

[elshiva]

6. Thank you for your dedication, RevCheesehead!

Your friend Amiel has it right. We will all die.
Continue to keep preaching about social justice. We need it!
:hug:

God bless you!