Thoughts for the Day

But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Thinking back over my time in full-time ministry the next two weeks were often manic - filled with carol services in schools, advent study groups, creating Christmas services on the computer and printing them off, carrying out home communions, officiating at a wedding, attending carol concerts, taking a funeral, updating the prayer list for those who are sick, finding the big crib and its figures and decorating the church, helping to get the Christmas tree put up, checking someone the salt or sand for the church paths if needed, making sure the church linen is pristine, doing the last magazine article for the New Year, creating Christmas sermons, rehearsing anthems with the choir, sorting out hymns and carols with the organist, finding readers for the carol service, checking all the lights in the church are working (the ones facing the altar are sure to blow!) and asking people to make mince pies for after various services. All of this is usually before they think of their own Christmas and their family.

St Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians (written around 50 CE) so within living memory of Jesus, finishes his letter to say "Respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work".

I would want to add "Appreciate your clergy (ministers, lay readers etc), thank them for their valued work, help them in any way you can, even give them a Christmas present if you wish, and above all pray for them. Then, and this is crucial, leave them alone for at least a week to recuperate!

Holy Spirit,
fill Your ministers with renewed strength
this Advent and Christmas.
Give them wisdom and patience
as they are called to work with Your people.
May they find the time for personal reflection
and may their faith be strengthened.
We pray also for their families
remembering all who support them,
and thanking You for their loving commitment.
Amen.