This week, part of my task at work has been to find, and to visit, elderly members of St. Andrews Church who are and have been for awhile, in Nursing Homes or Lodges. For te most part, I have enjoyed this exercise, and I also feel that it is a good deal more important for congregations than most people realize. Once a strong and contributing member is old enough to be no longer able to "do their part" or more than their part, they are soon replaced, and, after a time, forgotten. They become, as one older lady told me many years ago, "excommunicated from their Church."
In the last three weeks, I have found a few people like that. One gentleman, soon to move to another city, who was a major contributor to the social life of his community as well as his church, whose name is already strange to those under sixty years of age in the church. Another person, a woman, whose children now hold responsible positions in the Church administration provincially, and who herself was key person in the education enterprise of her congregation for many years, reflects not unkiondly on her inability to contribute more, or even to attend worship, without assistance. She is 95 years old!
Of course, not all of these folks harbour negative feelings toward their church for "forgetting" them. Some of them are releived that the active and arduous part of their lives is over, and that they can relax and reflect fondly on the times when they were extremely busy. Very pleasant memories were shard with me, and enjoyed in the telling. But they did need someone from their faith community to come and hear their stories. That may be the crucial part of church ministry to the institutionalized elderly that is missing.
As I think about it, I wonder if this concern of mine, which I have heard few other clergy voice, may be related to my own diminished sense of self, and my own nee to be "seen" and acknowledged as a person of worth in the church. That would certainly go a long way toward explaining why it is so important for me to continue taking pastoral appointments, and demonstrating that I am, in fact, still competent pastor and preacher. Could it be that any effectiveness that I demonstrate is part of a mildly pathological pattern? How badly do I need help?
Another aspect of my work this week involved meeting with, and getting to know, a group of senior high youth in the congregation, around the subject of a potential Church School class for them. They were about a dozen in number, engaging and attractive as a group, and obviously keen to seek out appropriate leadership for their class. In some ways I found them quite intimidating. They live comfortably in a world where I feel alien, uncertain and unskilled. I found them admirable in terms of the issues they navigate daily with apparent ease. Of course, they are an unusual group in some ways. The bulk of them are high achievers, and they come from families that are almost universally church families in one way or another. I may have the opportunity (the requirement?) to work with them a bit. That could prove to be both exhilarating and terrifying. A couple of these youngsters are helping me put together a slide show for a worship service i a week or two. They may be able to teach me how to do some of this myself! Imagine, another example of the student being the teacher. I can hardly wait!
In the last three weeks, I have found a few people like that. One gentleman, soon to move to another city, who was a major contributor to the social life of his community as well as his church, whose name is already strange to those under sixty years of age in the church. Another person, a woman, whose children now hold responsible positions in the Church administration provincially, and who herself was key person in the education enterprise of her congregation for many years, reflects not unkiondly on her inability to contribute more, or even to attend worship, without assistance. She is 95 years old!
Of course, not all of these folks harbour negative feelings toward their church for "forgetting" them. Some of them are releived that the active and arduous part of their lives is over, and that they can relax and reflect fondly on the times when they were extremely busy. Very pleasant memories were shard with me, and enjoyed in the telling. But they did need someone from their faith community to come and hear their stories. That may be the crucial part of church ministry to the institutionalized elderly that is missing.
As I think about it, I wonder if this concern of mine, which I have heard few other clergy voice, may be related to my own diminished sense of self, and my own nee to be "seen" and acknowledged as a person of worth in the church. That would certainly go a long way toward explaining why it is so important for me to continue taking pastoral appointments, and demonstrating that I am, in fact, still competent pastor and preacher. Could it be that any effectiveness that I demonstrate is part of a mildly pathological pattern? How badly do I need help?
Another aspect of my work this week involved meeting with, and getting to know, a group of senior high youth in the congregation, around the subject of a potential Church School class for them. They were about a dozen in number, engaging and attractive as a group, and obviously keen to seek out appropriate leadership for their class. In some ways I found them quite intimidating. They live comfortably in a world where I feel alien, uncertain and unskilled. I found them admirable in terms of the issues they navigate daily with apparent ease. Of course, they are an unusual group in some ways. The bulk of them are high achievers, and they come from families that are almost universally church families in one way or another. I may have the opportunity (the requirement?) to work with them a bit. That could prove to be both exhilarating and terrifying. A couple of these youngsters are helping me put together a slide show for a worship service i a week or two. They may be able to teach me how to do some of this myself! Imagine, another example of the student being the teacher. I can hardly wait!
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