May 10, 2024

Dear church,

One of the questions I hear a lot is, “What do pastors actually do?” I get asked this not just by people outside of the church but also by people within the church. What a fair question! It makes complete sense to me why it’s not obvious the kinds of things that fill our days! It can appear that our work is largely about making Sunday morning happen, and much of our work is about that. Preparing a sermon, yes, but also writing the liturgy, crafting the prayers, planning the music, making sure there’s enough communion bread and wine, etc. But there are so many other things we do during the week to accompany people who are sick or struggling, to shape the programs and priorities of a faith community, to make ourselves available to people who are having a hard time with church, and to keep cultivating a healthy spirituality within ourselves and within our leadership.   
 
There’s a lot more I’d like to write on this, but in the meantime, I came across this Facebook post by Pastor Tara Beth Leach that offers such a good and honest glimpse into this vocation. I thought it was worth sharing with the community that has called me to be their pastor! My gratitude runs so deep for getting to do this work alongside all of you.
 
Pastor Leach writes:
 
I’m often asked, what does a pastor do besides preach on a Sunday? Even my own children are often baffled that I go to work in an office during the week. When I’m not preaching on a Sunday, someone will often make a playful jest, “Oh, get the week off?!”
I love preaching. Proclaiming hope and good news is a weighty and enthralling call. But it isn’t my preaching that informs my pastoring. Instead, it is pastoring that informs my preaching. Pastoring is what I do, and preaching is a small part of pastoring. 
 
Pastoring is the thrill of baptizing the baby you prayed for while in the womb. 
Pastoring is the ache of visiting a beloved member in the hospital when they were “just fine” the day before… and gutted by their sudden suffering. 
Pastoring is hearing the confessions of seekers and saints and sinners alike. It’s hearing the, “I’ve never told anyone this before…” roll off the lips of one who is longing for restoration. 
Pastoring is holding space for the disgruntled when they feel like change is coming too abruptly in their beloved church. It’s listening. Shepherding. Guiding. 
Pastoring is leading teams of eager servants who want to be led and inspired. 
Pastoring is also excel spreadsheets, strategic plans, budgets, employee decisions, staff culture making, and guiding teams to attack missional priorities. 
Pastoring is pre-marital counseling and officiating weddings, and then also pastoral presence when marriages fail. 
Pastoring is the thrill that we actually get to walk with people in their valleys and mountaintops alike.
 
Thank you, dear church, for calling Pr. Reed and me to live out this vocation here in this time and place. We are so grateful!
 
Pastor Sarah

Every Friday, we send an email to the congregation and any others who would like to learn more about the Grace community. The last four Friday emails are posted below.