The nature of ministry is filled with stress and a good measure of anxiety. For our own emotional health, we need to develop strategi es in which we interrupt that stress by entering a sanctuary, whether physical or psychological, and refocus ourselves. Even brief Sabbaths of 10 to 20 minutes, practiced on a regular basis, can have both a calming and rejuvenating effect on us.

 

Try a simple experiment. If you have either a watch or an electronic calendar that has an alarm built in, set it for 10:30 and 3:30 every day for a month. When the alarm goes off, enter a brief Sabbath time in which you offer thanks to God for yo ur life and God's call in your life. If you are with someone when the alarm goes off, simply zone out for a minute for an interior prayer, or if that is impossible, make a note to do that at the first opportunity. If you are not with someone or can excuse yourself, perhaps for a bathroom break, enter the stall and spend 5 minutes alone with God. The objective is not measured in length of time but the regularity of interrupting your day twice to enter a sanctuary that helps you stay in touch with that which is important.

There are many ways that we can care for our emotional health. It can be as simple as making sure that you interrupt the intensity of your work with occasional experiences of fun. That is why a hobby can be so important. For some people keeping a journal can be a way of caring for their emotional life. Exercise can care not only for the body but emotions as well.

Taking time to engage in the pleasure of relationships can also help our emotional state. God's statement in Genesis 2:18 that it is not good for humans to be alone speaks to a major truth that transcends though certainly includes the issue of sexuality. Good relationships are critical for our emotional health. This is the value of lunch or coffee with a clergy colleague.

Stop and make a list of the ways that you can interrupt the intensity of your life through some type of Sabbath experience. Add to the list other ways that you might try. Then intentionally practice healthy interruptions on a daily basis.

There are some theological assumptions under girding this idea.
 

First, the church is the Body of Christ. That means that the church is more than a human organization even though clearly also it is a human organization. There is something of the spirit involved in all that happens in a church  . Second, based on both the Gospels and the letters of Paul, the assumption is that the spirit is at work especially when the church is struggling with real issues in its life. In fact, God can use the challenges of a church as a context for speaking to it and guiding it in its faith journey. The spirit doesn't just speak when things are going smoothly or when people are at their faithful best but precisely when those things are not true.  Third, pastors can be most alive when they are responding to the call of God as a spiritual leader of a church. So one of the ways that the session can strengthen your pastor's ministry is to consciously enter that process with him or her.

Step 1: Ask the church leaders to identify the five most pressing issues facing the church at this time. These can be organizational issues, problems with upset members, failure to attract new members, spiritual dryness, financial problems, lack of commitment, etc. The point is that most leaders are aware of some of the major challenges facing a church but often they don't name them clearly.

Step 5: Even if you don't know how to respond, try to identify what God might be trying to say to the congregation in this circumstance.

The same steps can be repeated with the other issues. You might benefit from having some time intervene between step 2 and 3 and ask everyone to keep the issue and biblical stories in their prayers during the intervening time.  

The Book of Order mandates that the COM arrange for a triennial visit to each congregation in the presbytery. The value of these triennial visits is enhanced if there have been prior positive exchanges between the churches and the presbytery COM. Consider possible ideas to build partnerships between congregations and the Committee on Ministry.

In the age of computers, the COM can gather a series of touchstones with respect to pastors and DCEs, such as ordination dates, anniversaries, birthdates, etc. and send a reminder to the congregations with respect to their staff. COM also can gather touchstones in congregational life and occasionally send the congregation a congratulatory message with respect to anniversaries, significant mission involvement, gifts shared with presbytery, etc. The gathering of such data is one of those defined tasks that the right volunteer(s), not necessarily a member of the COM, would do with pleasure.

The COM can emphasize the connectionalism of the Body of Christ by designing a joint visit with two congregations where each could hear what the other is doing in ministry. Every three years a new set of congregation-to-congregation visits can be designed. One variation might be a mini-mission-fair to involve several small congregations, guided by a COM visitor, to celebrate the potential of all the congregations. You are looking for opportunities for the congregation to feel good about their work as well as to see the potential for being a stronger part  of the larger church.

Whether during the visit, in a video, or through other communication, the resources that are available through the COM to assist in various areas can be identified. It will be helpful for the COM representative to make note of particularly creative ministries that might be shared with the whole presbytery. This can help build the bonds of the whole presbytery.

In preparation for these visits, the COM needs to brainstorm the potential signs to look for that can signal potential hot spots that might need to be addressed at a later date such as:

• The lack of ease with which the pastor and the session communicate.
• The negative impression that elders might have of presbytery.
• Areas of ministry that they are reluctant to discuss.

While the triennial visit is normally not the time to engage in serious problem solving, it needs to be made clear that the COM is available to do that if it is desired. In every visit and communication, the people and addresses by which the congregation can contact the COM and presbytery staff are made available.

We have some significant resources in our faith that can assist us in being supportive to returned soldiers. As you consider how to respond, particularly to people who have been traumatized by their experiences, you will deepen your own appreciation of the faith.

First is the concept of sanctuary. Historically sanctuary is a place or setting to which you can withdraw and feel safe to rest and be restored. As Israel set up their society in their Promised Land, they established cities of refuge to which people could flee. (Numbers 35:9-34) Originally, this dealt with the problem of blood revenge but the concept of sanctuary has taken on many forms throughout history.  

As Numbers mentioned, it can be a place to which the alien within your land can flee. This aspect was developed by a number of churches with respect to Hispanic immigrants within our borders. Inherent in the concept of sanctuary is a place where one can withdraw from the threatening aspects of the world and connect with the healing presence of God.

Consider how churches might expand the concept of sanctuary to provide a safe place that veterans might retire to when they are feeling overwhelmed by either their emotions or the behavior of those around them. Our churches can draw upon the resources available to them to prepare appropriate scriptures, recorded music, and strong symbols placed in an unlocked sanctuary. It might also help to invite other members of our congregations to visit the sanctuary from time to time to enter into prayer on behalf of the veterans.

In a variety of media, the invitation is issued to all returned soldiers that at any hour of the day or night, they can go there for refuge. Resources are available to help them focus on the strengths inherent in their faith. Even when they are not there, they can know that others care about and are praying for them.