Essential Workers

 The phrase “essential workers” has entered our vocabulary during this pandemic of recent months.   When I have heard that phrase used by a celebrity or a  news commentator on television, they usually refer to  medical personnel who work in hospitals, nursing homes, or urgent care centers… grocery store clerks that stock shelves or check you out when you make a purchase.. or teachers who struggle to care for the educational pursuits of those children under their trust along with following health and safety guidelines.  I would like to suggest adding another name to the long list of essential workers who deserve our respect and appreciation:  local churches and local pastors.  

Have you ever seen a bee hive in a tree or in the yard of a friend who is a beekeeper?  If you have, you will notice little activity on the outside, but when you open up the beehive you will see a lot going on.   I believe that is a fitting metaphor for the life of pastors and local churches these days.   While outside local churches it might seem that not much is happening because many churches have not been gathering for in-person worship, there is a lot happening with churches and their pastors.   While many folks during this pandemic have  been encouraged if not ordered to stay home, local churches and their pastors have been learning new ways to reach out to their community and new, creative venues to lead and hold worship.    While  you might not have seen local pastors visiting hospitals or nursing homes, they have been visiting with people using video conference, phone calls, texts, emails, and the like.  

While some will think that pastors are not doing much since in person worship is not taking place now, I personally find myself working harder now than before the pandemic as I prepare one blog per week… one devotion for our bulletin each week… and two worship times each week while at the same time trying to stay connected to the members of our local church congregation.     Some pastors even continue to seek to be in ministry when faced with possible danger to their own health as people in the community face death, severe sickness, and family troubles perhaps intensified by being at home all the time.    I know two pastors who have contracted COVID-19 here in North Carolina and have recovered.   I know of another pastor in another state who contracted COVID-19 and did not recover and died.  

Perhaps you think I am being self-serving by writing this or seeking your pity or gratitude.   What I am really trying to do is simply draw attention to local churches and pastors who are more essential than many believe.   Funeral homes and grief-sticken families certainly do not say they cannot call their local church or pastor when death stares them in the face  because there is a a pandemic!  Have a joy-filled week!-  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER :     O God,  we give you thanks for all those who continue to work for the good and welfare of our community.   Today, we especially give you thanks for local churches and pastors who are more interested in the care of others than their own safety.   Bless them, Lord, as they seek to be a blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.