Sundays for Pastors
By Rev. Sylvester D. Patton, III, 10th Episcopal District
Right after worship, even after preaching hard, we stand to greet the congregants for as long as it takes because we want to connect and encourage them. As quiet as it is kept, we want to be encouraged ourselves. Suits and dresses may be sweated out and our tanks may be empty but a smile is on our face. We’re honored to be your pastor and we never want to lose the personal touch.
Sunday afternoon or evening for a pastor is a sacred time. Pastors rest because he or she has left all that they were given by the Holy Spirit at the place of worship. The anointing that was dripping on us while we were preaching should now be on you.
If you asked 80% of preachers what was preached just eight hours before, it would take about 30 seconds just to remember the text and title because it’s now out of us. We walked with it for a week; and because of the foolishness of preaching, others now have what we had. It’s now up to them to share it with the world.
Pastors are now tired and worn out. Some even sleep in their “church clothes” when they get home or in the church office.
When we wake up, we’re wondering if we did it right. Did we misspeak what God told us to say? How was the sermon? Did it connect? Did we show too much of ourselves and not enough Jesus? Why didn’t anyone join? How much was the offering so we can take care of the mortgage, salaries, ministry requests, and denominational apportionments? Why wasn’t the attendance better? Is it me or is it just the summer crowd? Why wasn’t the choir on it today? Was the sound person alive today? How was the church’s hospitality?
Pastors replay the worship experience in their heads because that’s what under-shepherds do. They also analyze who can and cannot be trusted with the sensitive areas of our lives and with the vision God has given the church.
So, on Sunday afternoons and evenings, let the pastor rest. Let them spend time with their family, the ones they’ve neglected sometime during the week because they were preparing a sermon. Don’t ask them for anything. As a matter of fact, ask them if they need anything.
It’s also a day that pastors and their families need prayer. Pray that they are restored and renewed. Pray that God takes care of the needs of their household.
Remember, the pastor who preached like Superman or Superwoman hours ago is still anointed but feels more like Clark Kent now. This is the life of a pastor on Sunday.
