Montclair Presbyterian Church

My job really hasn’t shifted much since my ordination. I do appreciate it when you call me Rev., of course, and relish the opportunity to wear fancy stoles (Advent is coming soon!) but in the day-to-day business, not much has changed. I have however taken on some of those “extra duties as assigned,” and here’s the newest one: Presbytery service.

Yes, Presbytery, those daylong regional gatherings of pastors and elders, where much is discussed, and many (many) reports are given. Gone are the days when I could stroll in fashionably late, because now I’m in charge of PowerPoint slides for the whole meeting!

Running a slideshow is good for me because I’m easily distracted if my mind is allowed to go free-range and cage-less. It is hard for anyone to stay fully present for an 8-hour-long meeting, but some find it easier than others, and I definitely count myself with those others. If my hands and mind aren’t sufficiently occupied during a meeting, they usually end up on my phone and social media – at first I do this to share an insight from the meeting, but then I look at videos of cats falling down, and on and on. It’s hard to stay focused and I need some interventions. One is to just keep my hands busy by knitting or drawing. But another tactic I use is to give myself lots of little jobs to do, and Powerpoint is perfect for this; I have to keep track of business and edit motions as they are amended (and sometimes, the amendment to the amendment of the main motion…). At the very least, I have to sit in the front row looking like I understand what’s going on as I click through the slides. So I’m happy to give up my late Presbytery arrivals in exchange for this small but important role.

To me, the difference between sitting through a meeting vs. Powerpointing through a meeting is like the difference between silent meditation and walking meditation. I’ve never been fantastic at the totally silent kind of meditation. My monkeymind is just too active for that. But walking slowly and mindfully, perhaps repeating a word or prayer with each step, is the kind of meditation that allows me to truly relax and open up. I am grateful that we know both kinds of meditation – contemplative and active. I welcome you all to find the kind that suits you, whether that’s keeping your hands busy by coloring in church on Sunday morning, or by taking on a bigger role such as a service position at church. We don’t have Powerpoint here, but we do have sound system operators, lay readers, ushers, and a large group of unofficial newcomer greeters who keep their minds busy even as they participate in Celebration.

I will end with a quick thanks for you, the MPC congregation, because when I talk about Presbytery or other conferences I’ve been to, nobody has ever asked “how long will that take you away from work?” Yes, these meetings take me and Ben away from the office, but not away from work. You all understand that this kind of wider church participation and service is not separate from, but is indeed a part of our work here as pastors, and that it is important for us to be so connected to God’s mission work both near and far.

Every Blessing,
Talitha

I returned last week from the Company of New Pastors gathering in St. Louis, MO, where I got to romp in bright-colored fall leaves, meet lots of new Presbyterian pastors, connect with old friends, and pray and sing. Although I will remind myself never to schedule TWO weeks of study leave, one right after another, I am still grateful for both of the conferences I attended in October.

The Company of New Pastors (CNP) was recommended to me by the San Francisco Presbytery as soon as I was ordained. It is a program that aims to strategically address the problem of new pastor burnout. Have you heard about the burnout rate for new pastors? It is staggering – about a third of those who graduate seminary (including pastors, chaplains, youth ministry workers and more) have left the field within 5 years. This statistic may seem incredible, and compared to other graduate-level professions it is quite notable, but it does seem true given my circle of seminary friends and their experiences in the first years of ministry.

The Presbyterian national office is doing what it can to keep our collective talents, education, and vocation from being needlessly burned out. And studies show that an effective way to do that is to have a cohort of peers and mentors meet regularly. It actually doesn’t even matter if you like or dislike your cohort, or if they seem supportive or dysfunctional – simply having a cohort adds an extra measure of probability for you to stay in ministry. So I went to St. Louis last week, and I met my cohort. There are nine new pastors, and two experienced mentors. The program is simple – we covenant together to try to pray daily, and to hold one another accountable for that. We are doing monthly online hangouts, reading and discussing books together, and will have in-person meetings every 8 months, during our first five years in ministry. It is simple, but I trust that it will be effective.

I think everybody needs a cohort, from time to time. Especially when we go through new experiences or drastic changes, it helps so much to know that we are not alone. That is an important part of what I do in Youth Group ministry. Our retreats are bonding experiences for them to become closer to one another and learn to trust, support, and rely on one another as they go through life. In this case, they are doing this with fellow teenagers, but whether your cohort is by age or by experience, it can be an important source of spiritual strength. You may have an idea for a new cohort at the church, and if you do, I will definitely support you in that! For now, I’ll invite you to take a peek at the Youth Group cohort on the retreat (our Flickr page is here: Youth Retreat photos) and also to think about two other cohorts at the church.

1. We have a Grief and Spirituality Group, which meets monthly (2nd Monday of the month, 3-4:30pm, Thornhill Room). Mourning can be an isolating and difficult path, so having fellow travelers on that road is helpful. If you are grieving the loss of a partner, parent, child, or friend – no matter how large or small, recent or distant – you are most welcome to come and share in this community of support.
2. This may be the first you hear of another brand new group, called “In Sickness and Health.” (EDIT: 1st meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov 18th from 2-3:30pm in the Family Room.) This is in response to some of the needs that we are seeing in our congregation. It will be a group that gathers together both those who are dealing with serious illnesses, and their family members or spouses. People who are ill often can attend (in a medical setting) a support group for people with the same diagnosis. And your partner or spouse might simultaneously go to a support group for caregivers. Those separate support groups are appropriate in a medical context, but in a spiritual context like our church, we want to bring both sides of the story together, knowing that we all share in one another’s suffering. It will be a simple program, centered around your experiences. Please let me know if you are interested in participating! I am hoping that 2pm on the 3rd Wednesday of the month will work for most people. The only qualification is that you are dealing with an illness – yours or a loved one’s. You can come together or alone.

Thanks for walking this road together. I pray we may do so for a long time.

Every Blessing,
Talitha