A Sunday (3) in the Life of a Pastor/Mother: Casualties

Today was one of those days in which I should have just crawled back into bed. Actually, the whole week was like that. Already my energy was low from having to plan and lead a 6-hour presbytery retreat for 50 council members and committee chairs a couple of days ago. With me being presbytery moderator and my husband being a committee chair it was just easier to not take the kids to school that day. But I digress . . . today was another day. In fact, I literally thought it was a different Sunday than the one I had planned for.

You see, today was a day we call “Interactive Sunday,” where we set up interactive prayer stations in worship. On these Sundays, we don’t have any Sunday School programs because the stations are meant to be intergenerational. Only yesterday morning, did I wake up and realize the mix-up. Now, you can say, “Theresa, everyone does that every now and then.” Except that, I literally spent the week planning for both the interactive prayer stations and Sunday School this Sunday without realizing it. It was as if my right brain and my left brain weren’t aware of what the other was thinking. Usually I would just shrug it off but I am aware that next Sunday we have a guest preacher because my Head of Staff will be having hip replacement surgery this week and no Sunday School planned. So, it will be all me for a while.

With all this on my mind, this pastor/mother was a bit frazzled. Running 15 minutes late, I rushed the kids into the car, ignored the empty gas light that was on, and managed to accidentally drop my 3 year old on the ground while taking her out of her car seat. My saving grace really is my congregation, who after noticing the mix-up of programs, volunteered to help me put together an impromptu Sunday School program for next week.

Luckily the casualties were minor this time for this frazzled mom: I lost a few more brain cells; my son was only mildly neglected; and my baby girl has a little scraped arm. Nothing that McDonald’s can’t fix.

Interactive Prayer Stations on Hunger Awareness

“The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.'” (Matthew 22.8-9)

The parable of the Wedding Banquet speaks of a wedding reception that was fit for a king and yet all those typically considered unworthy were invited to the feast. There was plenty for all. In the month of October, my church focused the whole month on hunger awareness. Interactive prayer stations are a wonderful opportunity for people to reflect on their participation, experience, and thoughts on hunger issues in the community and the world.

The interactive prayer stations are meant to be intergenerational. (For more specific instructions on layout, purpose, design, and more ideas, you can view previous posts tagged under “Interactive Prayer Stations.”) You can see more pictures of these prayer stations here.

Interactive Prayer Station #1: Appetizer

Materials: Basket, Leftover Communion Bread

These are the leftovers from last Sunday’s communion. Is grace offered only for some or for all? How do you approach food that already has “bites” taken out of it?

How might others feel getting our leftovers?

for themselves?

for their children?

for their future?

take time to let this settle into you now . . . invite God to place this in your faith journey.

Interactive Prayer Station #2: Main Course

Materials: Stone Soup Story, Pencils, Paper

NOTE: The story Stone Soup was read before the interactive prayer stations. Participants were instructed to bring a vegetable or ingredient from their pantry to worship.

Tell your own story about food, of being hungry, of having plenty, of sharing or of receiving.

reflect on the significance of this now . . . invite God to add this to your faith journey.

Interactive Prayer Station #3: Dessert

Materials: Dessert Plate, Fork, Knife, Spoon, Dinner napkin, Pencils, Paper, Paper Coin Boxes

What action do you intend to take as you step away from your meal and as you acknowledge Jesus as the bread of life, for all people?

You may wish to take a coin box and return it at the end of the month, to feed a family or two in our Harvest Pantry Ministry.

allow this to become part of you now . . . invite God to add this to your faith journey.