In a year of lament, it is a challenge to find and celebrate joy. “What is your joy this year?” our church devotional asked us. And just a week ago, I could not find my joy. Of course, I could find moments of joy, but I struggled to find my joy. I heard about grandbabies born, children and grandchildren graduating and time at home with family. But, I did not have my joy to share.
I went running at the end of the week (running is always a gateway to joy for me), but while I was running, it hit me: my joy this year is the love, support and companionship from ministerial colleagues near and far. The beginning of the pandemic was a sad time for me personally, and a colleague in my presbytery noticed I was struggling and called to just listen. I have been blessed to exchange weekly voicemails with another colleague I met at a transitional ministry conference last year; we strategize, support and pray for each other. I have a great group of female pastors in my presbytery who look out for one another and make great jokes. We have a “newish pastors” group that has been able to laugh and be sad together. And our executive presbyter and stated clerk have looked out for all of us through this challenging time! And the alliteration was too tempting to let go of, but it is not just “clergy colleagues,” but colleagues in ministry that have brought me joy this year. I was able to reconnect with a “lady preachers” group formed in the last presbytery I served over Zoom or Facebook video chats this year — to have an adult beverage, catch up on each other’s lives and listen to what ministry is like in different areas of the country. When I have struggled in ministry this year, I always had someone to call who I knew would be able to relate, listen, strategize with me and pray — and many of those connections are through denominational programs and connectional events.
I am also intensely grateful for the support I have received and witnessed in PC(USA) and ecumenical ministry Facebook groups. With technology holding us all together, it is such a blessing to be able to make a quick post in my CREDO group to ask for help with a video issue, or to share a lament about how things are so weird right now in the “Things They Didn’t Teach Us in Seminary” ecumenical group. In the online PC(USA) leadership groups, I’ve witnessed others using the safe space to ask questions, share things that have worked well or talk about things that have not gone well in ministry. I have watched so many faith leaders selflessly share what they have learned and produced at no cost, on their own time, for the sole purpose of helping a neighbor in need and glorifying God. We have partnered together to get the job done.
Another joy of this year is that the online worship services have allowed pastors to witness one another at work. I have worshipped alongside ministry leaders across miles and time zones. While I know it took all of us a long time to get comfortable seeing ourselves on video every week, I have been blessed to hear the Word proclaimed by familiar faces. I am grateful for the access online worship affords. Far from “sheep stealing,” this has been a time to embrace the truth that we are all in this together, and to recognize that reconnecting or connecting does not equal disconnecting with a current church home or faith community.
My joy is so much more than could fit into this one blog. It is working with other faith leaders, ministry partners and Christians virtually this year to share resources, uplift one another, troubleshoot issues, foster creativity and make sure the gospel can be shared. I wish I could thank every single ministry colleague that has blessed me this year, but the list is too long, and I probably don’t even know all their names. But I do know this: our ministries have been blessed, because we’ve come together. You, colleagues and ministry partners, are my true joy this year.
