What does it profit if you gain the whole world and lose your soul?

Is anything worth more than your soul?

--Jesus (Matthew 16:26)

Jesus' question haunts me on both a personal and a professional level. I know firsthand the paradoxical experience of outward success and inward emptiness. I can attest to the cost of pouring myself out in service, only to wake up drained of compassion and devoid of energy. Barbara Brown Taylor in Leaving Church speaks of her own painful journey of awakening:

Many of the things that were happening inside me seemed too shameful to talk about out loud[...] Drawn to care for hurt things, I had ended up with compassion fatigue. Drawn to a life of servanthood, I had ended up a service provider. Drawn to marry the Divine Presence, I had ended up estranged.[1] 

As spiritual leaders, we enter the ministry in response to a deep-rooted sense of call. In the very fiber of our being is the desire to make a difference-the yearning to bear God's healing and transformation-into the life of individual, community and world. In the strength of our passions and gifts, we become pastors charged with the oversight of congregations. For most of us, the strength of our call carries us through the first five or ten or even fifteen years of our ministry, until one day they we wake up spent and emptied, wondering, "what is it all about?" It is then that Jesus' question rises to the surface of consciousness: "What does it profit if you gain the whole world and lose your soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"

Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee reflect on the cost sacrificing too much for too long: "The constant sacrifices and stress inherent in effective leadership can cause us to lose ourselves and sink into dissonance[...] slowly, over many years, we lose touch with who we are and what we really care about, and one day we find we are not ourselves anymore."[2] The tender reality is that when leaders, in any profession, find themselves trapped in the sacrifice syndrome[3], mere rest and relaxation is not sufficient.

Renewal will only come through the intentional practice of mindfulness, compassion, hope and play. When a spiritual leader loses his or her soul, it is costly to retrieve. As pastors and elders, we have a responsibility to be attentive to the care of our souls. Until (and unless), we attend to the care of soul, the spiritual transformation of team, congregation, and community will remain impossible. It has been said that: "Only those who have faced their own dark side can be trusted to lead others toward the light."[4] This Lent, gift yourself with sufficient time apart to awaken anew to yourself and to God.

Lenten blessings,

Debbie Rundlett
General Presbyter

---

[1] Barbara Brown Taylor, Leaving Church (New York: Harper One, 2007), p. 102.

[2] Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee, Resonant Leadership (Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2005), p. 58.

[3]

Boyatzis and McKee describe the sacrifice syndrome as "a vicious cycle of stress and sacrifice, resulting in mental and physical distress, burnout, and diminished effectiveness" (2008, p. 37).
 

 

[4] Ruth Haley Barton, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership p. 44.

Announcing a Specially-Called Meeting of Muskingum Valley Presbytery

Women's Breakfast to be held at Christ Canton

Monday, March 24 at Westminster Hall

Please see the attached notice regarding the Women's Breakfast to be held at Christ Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio.  Rev. Dr. Esther Wakeman will be speaking on her faith, experiences and work in Thailand. 

Guests are welcome and it is asked that reservations be made through the CPC office at 330-465-8113 or www.cantonpc.org/eventregistration. 

Save the Dates!

Upcoming Thai Folk Drama Performances

Esther Wakeman, our missionary, will be traveling to three churches in the Presbytery with her dance team from Thailand.  You can catch these performances at:

• Christ Presbyterian Church, Canton Ohio on Sunday, March 23

• The Mission Ministry of Christ Church proudly announces the visit of the

   

  LIKAY THAI FOLK DRAMA DANCERS

   

  They will be presenting dances and drama based upon stories from scripture after the late service on March 23rd.  The presentation will be preceded by a covered dish luncheon where the baked chicken and mac-n-cheese will be provided.  This family friendly production is part of the outreach mission of the Christian Communications Institute of Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Its longtime director is Dr. Rob Collins who is married to our mission representative, Dr. Esther Wakeman-Collins.  It was organized to tell the Gospel message to those who were unable to read or were uninterested in just the spoken word.  The CCI troupe has presented the Good News Gospel on many international tours and always looks forward to their visit to Christ Church. 

   

  The drama will begin about 12:30 for those who may not be attending the late service or the luncheon.  Please invite friends and neighbors who might enjoy this beautiful message.

• First Presbyterian Church, Wooster Ohio on Sunday evening, March 23
• 6:00 pm - Traditional Thai dinner provided by Thai One (Suggested donation $8.50)
• 7:00 pm - Thai Folk Drama performance (freewill offering to cover travel expenses)
• For further information on attending the Thai folk drama at First Wooster, contact 330-264-9420 before Tuesday, March 18.

• Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Zanesville Ohio on Saturday, March 29
• 6:00 pm -Thai Folk Drama performance (freewill offering to cover travel expenses)
• For further information, contact 740-452-6441.

Central Presbyterian Church in Zanesville, Ohio

Celebrates 100 Years of Worship

The congregation of Central Presbyterian Church in Zanesville, Ohio invites you to join in celebrating 100 years of service to Christ and the community.

The early congregation assembled for worship in 1809 in downtown Zanesville. The present church was dedicated in 1914. A special worship service to commemorate the event will be held at 10:15 am Sunday, May 4, 2014 in the church.  A light luncheon will be served in the fellowship hall following worship.

We look forward to seeing you in worship and at the luncheon as we celebrate 100 years!

Please RSVP to the Church office at 40 N 6th Street, Zanesville, OH 43701 - telephone: 740-452-8459.

"Resting in God: A Retreat for Church Leaders" 

Spring Retreat from RMMG

The Retreat Ministry Mission Group wishes to invite you to their Spring Retreat - "Resting in God."  

Details and registration form are available in the attached brochure. 

Registrations are due by Monday, April 21, 2014 to MVP. Scholarships are available to offset the cost of the retreat.

Spring Lantern Fellowship 2014 Women's Retreat

From Tara Mitchell

All ladies are invited to attend the 2014 Spring Lantern Women's Retreat in April.  

Upcoming Celebration of Life for Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Shafer - Information and Request

The Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Shafer went to be with his Lord and Savior over Christmas 2013.  Due to the holidays, we just had a simple service for my father with immediate family only in attendance.  It was always our intention to have a public celebration of his life once spring arrived. 

We have now scheduled that celebration for Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 11:00 am.  The service will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wooster with Rev. Coetzee coordinating/officiating.  We would welcome any involvement from interested representatives/members of Dad's previous churches or any clergy that knew him. There will be a luncheon served afterwards for those who care to stay.  If you are interested in attending, please contact the church office so lunch planning can take place. 

Anyone interested in participating should contact Rev. Coetzee at the church (330-263-2398) or by email.

Thank you so much,

Jeff Shafer

Seeking an Organist/Pianist

New Concord Westminster Presbyterian Church

From Massillon Central Presbyterian Church

Seeking an Organist

Central Presbyterian Church of Massillon has an immediate opening for a quarter-time organist and accompanist. Instruments are a 2002 Allen Renaissance 80-stop, 3-manual digital organ with MIDI and a Steinway six-foot grand piano.  The individual filling the position will be responsible for one Sunday morning worship service, weekly rehearsal (September-May) with a twenty-five voice chancel choir, special liturgical services, weddings, and in-church funeral services.  

Position reports to the Director of Music Ministries. Compensation will be negotiated and based upon commensurate experience.  A full position description is available upon request. 

Interested persons are asked to contact Larry Lalama at 330-832-7455 or cpcp@sssnet.com.

A Letter from Window Into World Mission

"Serving and Being Served"

February 2014

This month's edition of Window into World Mission features a portion of a story written by Cindy Morgan, who serves with her husband, Les, in Bangladesh.  Her story shows why the Church is uniquely called to engage in mission that is mutual transforming for those served, as well as those who are serving.  

A Letter from Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly

Please see the attached letter for Lenten blessings and remarks regarding the ongoing conflicts between Israel and Palestine from the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Gradye Parsons. 

2014 PW Gathering: "Radical Hospitality"

From the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Covenant 

The PW in the Synod of the Covenant wish to announce their 2014 Gathering, "Radical Hospitality."

• Date: July 18-19, 2014
• Location: Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 5151 W Lennon Rd, Flint Township, MI 48507

Details on breakout sessions, cost, and speakers can be found in this brochure.

Save the Date: May 1, 2014

Re/Entry: Rebuilding Productive Lives, Post-Incarceration

A Policy Coordination and Training Symposium for Professionals

Please see the attached news release announcing the Exploring a Call to Seminary Conference at UDTS 

An Exciting Choral Opportunity for Our Youth