What a week. Many of you are gearing up to re-open for in-person gatherings – whether that be for worship services, small groups, prayer, or some combination thereof. However, for some of you, re-assimilation as a congregation is still weeks, or even months away.
In short, as was mentioned in a previous Arizona Capitol Project email, and also in scores of other publications, everyone is different. Every church is different. Context matters, of course. I’ve spoken to a rural pastor whose context makes it possible for his congregation to meet this weekend. Last week, I spoke to an interim pastor serving a congregation in a very marginalized area. Two members have smart phones. None has Internet access. Everyone is struggling. Many have or have had COVID-19. Context matters.
What a week. What a season of ministry for all of you. I am praying for you as you weigh what must be one of the more significant decisions of your ministerial lives. Regardless of CDC guidelines or today’s announcement from President Trump, you’re praying through what is best for your congregations and communities.
Whether you’ve been doing live, online worship services or posting them to YouTube or another platform, there’s no question that staring at screens is becoming tiring!
I don’t know about you, but for me, Zoom Fatigue is a thing. There’s no question that Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting, FaceTime, and others are keeping us connected right now, but “Zoom Fatigue” is no lie. It’s draining us. You see, we’re innately wired for human interaction, and while we’re seeing and engaging with those we know on screen, we work harder to process the non-verbal cues. This BBC article link is worth a read.
In short, pastor, ministry is taxing enough in the normal times. These are not normal times. Please take care of yourself and take a Sabbath rest!
One last thing: I am out and about now, and I would love to come to your office and bring you a cup of coffee, tea, a Diet Coke, or whatever you’d prefer. Just share 30 minutes of your time with me? I have a heart for pastors and a passion for the local church. God is doing some neat things through the Arizona Capitol Project, and it would be an honor to share it with you. I’ll be reaching out, but in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to drop me a note.
ICYMI: A little more about Arizona Capitol Project. Our mission is to build a relationship between the shepherds of God’s Church and the government: from our Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C., leaders in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches, and the county and municipal government officials throughout Arizona. Read more…
New & Noteworthy.
- A press release from ERLC on the church guidelines. Click here
- The Briefing by Albert Mohler, Friday, May 22. Ok, I confess some partiality to Dr. Al Mohler. I attended Southern Seminary. This morning’s Briefing handles the CDC Guidelines exceptionally well. Click here.
- Please pray with me for Sen. Martín Quezada (LD29). When news broke on Wednesday evening of an active shooter at Westgate Entertainment District, I immediately took to Twitter. I found that Sen. Martín Quezada (LD29) who lives in the area, was witness to the events as they unfolded. He tweeted about it. Pray with me for him. Click here.
- Call me a book nerd. I’m in the market for a set of commentaries. I reached out to my friend, Dr. Brian Arnold at Phoenix Seminary. He sent me a link to A Guide to Biblical Commentaries and Reference Works: 10th Edition, by John F. Evans. Helpful! Have a look: Click here.
- Connect with Arizona Capitol Project on Facebook this week and share what you’re doing to stay connected with your congregation. Share your ideas with other pastors and churches!