Keeping Vigil

I write this as I'm praying. I've never written out my prayer, but I suppose that speaking aloud, speaking it silently, singing it, or writing is still prayer. So, I'll pray in writing tonight.

Great and loving Father of all,
We're in the midst of a prayer vigil. I'll confess my disappointment that we weren't able to fill all of the 1/2 hour times slots during this week, but we have a good number of people who have decided to take on this challenge and for that, God, I'm thankful. Please bless all of those who take to their knees in prayer during this week long vigil. I ask that their prayers be answered in meaningful ways, that through your grace you are made known to them in their private time with you.

Thank you for entrusting this pastorate to me, please guide me and give me your wisdom. Lord, during this prayer time I want to lift up the many people who make your ministry at Good Shepherd such a joy to be a part of. I'll start with the staff, but even there I'll miss some. As of the last payroll, we had some 45 people on staff. Some work long hard hours in full time ministry. Others care for the over 220 children who come to our Little Lambs Pre-school and PDO ministries. And still others only put in a few hours during the week as they care for our children during our business and small group meetings. For the whole of this staff, I give you thanks and praise.

Our full time staff is made up of dedicated followers of Christ who use their own passions and Spiritual gifts to make a difference at GSUMC. RevKev, the associate I would never want to be without. He is a great sounding board, a fine pastor, and I admire his theological and biblical insights. I pray that you will work through him to bless Good Shepherd, and that you will give wisdom to our bishop and cabinet to realize his ministry here has years to go.

Colene, has such a varied list of interests that it is hard to limit her to just one particular job. But she does children's ministries with a deep care for our kids, a keen eye for details in ministry, and a strong sense of justice. Come to think of it, she approaches all of her ministry responsibilities with these qualities. I'm blessed to have her around.

Diane is a hard worker; a detail driven bookkeeper and calendar keeper who has such a faith that God will come through with what funds we need for our ministry that she keeps her lead pastor and the finance team from pulling our hair out when the money looks to be running short. The irony that she performs her ministry with such expertise but doesn't see it as ministry is a real testament to her value on our staff.

Marsha is as driven for excellence in ministry as anyone I know. Her passion for the presentation of this ministry to the visitor is priceless. She cares that a person's experience with this church is one in which they will be so impressed that they will want to make this their faith home. Whether they are visiting the food pantry, worship, a community meeting, a wedding, or whatever the case; they cannot come onto the property without being impacted by Marsha's artistic and passionate touch.

Tammy exhibits the characteristics of a director of youth ministries that you must have and rarely can find. Tammy relates incredibly well with the "students". (She won't call them youth or kids.) You can usually find youth directors who relate well. However, Tammy is passionate about training adults and enabling them to be effective youth leaders. She is equally passionate about the youth themselves becoming leaders. As a less than mediocre youth director in my past, I can tell you I value her ministry greatly.

Tiffany and Jen round out the full time staff, though they are only here during the school year. I rarely interact with the two of them as they spend all their time, except staff meetings, in the lower level running a top quality ministry to children through our Little Lambs program. I appreciate the level of expertise, the passion for their ministry to children (and their parents), and I am thankful that they are back in school so we can enjoy their presence, as well as that of the children. I also give thanks for the 18 (+/-) teachers and assistance that bring the love of God into the hearts of the children through the Little Lambs ministry.

There are two other staff members that I don't want to miss. Jeff serves as our music director. It's not a job that pays a lot of hours, but I suspect he would do it for free (though I'm not suggesting we cut his pay.) Jeff brings such a positive and upbeat attitude to our worship that is infectious and makes worship a pure joy to experience. God, you have gifted him for music and he shares that gift quite liberally with us each Sunday.

Kayla rounds out the staff, plus a few others. Kayla manages our Sunday morning and weeknight child care staff. These unsung heroes play with and teach our youngest children while we meet, worship, and gather for various other reasons. While some of these wonderful people can be seen most of the time, some of them are only around once per week. Nevertheless, they have provided a ministry of care that is deeply appreciated by the parents and myself.

Thank you God for those leaders in our ministry. No one gets rich off of ministry (at least not the honest ones) and these people could be doing much better financially if they chose another route. But God, they have chosen to keep vigil with this ministry. They are faithful to you and to your Good Shepherd. I am blessed to get to work with them.

Thank you God for this blessing of staff, for this half hour of keeping vigil in prayer, and for the sleep I am about to enjoy.

In Christ's Name I pray, AMEN.