The Ministry Work Week

So, most of my friends have Monday - Friday jobs and I find my Sunday-Thursday life doesn't always match up with their experiences. Their lives have a clean weekend break and I feel my life circles the two poles of Wednesday and Sunday Bible Classes. Yes, you could say I'm bi-polar.

Here it is Tuesday, a day for most of my friends holds no special meaning, but for us ministers its the day you get ready for Wednesday.

They ask, "Why not get ready on Wednesday for Wednesday?"

I respond, "I often do take care of little details on Wednesday for that night but I spend Wednesday planning for Sunday."

They grow more confused and ask, "Why not get ready for Sunday on Thursday?"

I sigh and try to patiently respond. "Thursday is the day I clean up from Wednesday, then do some things for Sunday. And don't ask about Monday, that's when I clean up from Sunday."

Often the "weekend" is lost in the shuffle. Running church errands on Friday, and stopping by the church Saturday night aren't uncommon for me, and many of you are the same way.

This is one of the reasons I really enjoy the CEA Conference! Yes, it means spending extra time to plan for Sunday and Wednesday before I leave. But it also means when I'm there I'm off the the church calendar rollercoaster. Also, I spend time with all of you! People who can truly sympothize with the bi-polar work week.

I neglected to write last week as we were preparing for our Oct 31st "Pumpkin Pandemonium." We invited neighborhood kids and our kids friends to come and trick or treat in our church. It was a lot of prep but when I looked around that evening and thought about my Wed/Sun driven schedule it didn't bother me at all! How could I when some of my elders were in costume handing out candy to kids and people felt ok just coming into the church off the street and mingling with our families?

Whenever I feel the Ministry Work Week wearing on me I need only remind myself what a blessing this job is to get up the energy to spend Tuesday focusing on Wednesday, and Thursday focusing on Sunday. That way when the kids are in the building we can spend every minute focusing on Jesus