Tuesday, March 25, 2008
easter workloads
Fascinating Easter workload reflection from here.
Until this year I had thought that the intensity of Holy Week came from the business involved, but this year has made we wonder in a positive way.
For the first time in 10 years I have not accepted any external commitments during Holy Week – no supervision sessions or retreats etc, and I had assumed that this would make the week lighter or less exhausting.
I have also been unusually well prepared in advance this year.
So far I feel very little different than previous years – which perhaps indicates that the intensity comes from the experience rather than the work-load
Easter simply wipes me out and the week after is really hard work. This year we paused our Easter Journey, yet I am still wasted. Is it just church leaders? Does Easter take an emotional toll on worship participants?
As a minister I must admit I certainly don’t share in the “resurrection” aspect of our easter celebrations!
Comment by mark — March 25, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
I tried to do daily activities for Lent, and really struggled through the last week….Holy Week. It was like I had run out of steam or something!
I was rostered to do the Easter Sunday communion message and sunday school, and the week before ended up being nominated as the replacement for a worship leader on holidays also. Plus my sister threw a surprise birthday party for me on Good Friday!
Perhaps God knows how much strength we need to get through it and supplies just enough, but isn’t averse to letting us feel a bit of exhaustion at the same time. Elijah heard from God in a new way in the midst of his post-Mount-Carmel exhaustion/depression…
Comment by Deborah Taggart — March 25, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
I just happened to note in Fred Craddock’s commentary on Luke on page 294 (which I have read in preparation for this Sunday’s mesage)that he specifically notes that many pastor’s experience a ‘post Easter slump’. There’s a name for it!
Comment by Andrew — March 27, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
I too feel the heaviness of Easter…
Burdened by the desire to share the story in meaningful ways.
Burdened by the very “weight” of the material. God betrayed. God suffering. God dead. Man resurrected. These are outside my understanding…and in a way outside my comfort zone (even as a Christian).
As pastor, Easter is the season of my biggest inner turmoils. My fears, doubts, sin come to light battling furiously with and within my heart and mind.
Yet, I would have it no other way. Somehow, to me, it feels like this is the way it should be. That week long ago in Jerusalem was no pretty hats and white dresses affair (Easter custom here in US at least).
Our music ministry director wrote a nice piece off the Jesus prayer, and I keep singing it in my head (the tune is very catchy in a minor)…”Lord Jesus Son of God, have mercy on me…”
Amen, Lord Jesus, have mercy on us. Let us wrestle with your Death and Resurrection. Let us hear your Word whispering, “Do you love me?” Give us the courage to respond “Yes, Lord, you know we do.”
Comment by Mark — March 28, 2008 @ 4:52 am