17 November 2024 Prayer for the Pastor, Deacon, Chaplain

If you would like to hear Laura Aase pray for you, you can listen right here: https://www.cgpmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/November-17-2024.m4a

You know me to the depths of my being, God. And so you probably know that sometimes the only reason I show up is because I’m supposed to. Because I am called to do it. So I put on the thing that reminds me I am called to this preaching, this kind of leadership, this kind of love– be it a collar, or a stole, or a certain shirt or pair of shoes – the thing that just says, “Welp, you have to go and do this today.” And sometimes it can feel so restrictive. Like it takes my breath away, not in the awe kind of way, but the obligated kind. Sometimes my heart is not in it. Maybe today is a day I am not feeling particularly loving of this call, the people, all the things. Or maybe it is. My heart is fickle that way. But I continue to depend on your love. For me. And when I remember that, even if it’s in fits and starts in front of my people and you and everybody! It helps me live into this call on the bad days and on the good. Even when foundations are shaking. But the foundation of you – your love, your mercy, your forgiveness, your faithfulness – it all remains. It’s so ridiculous, the particularity of your love for me. And the taking of my breath away – the awesome kind – of your love for all of it. Without fail. Even my failings. It’s just, well, it’s just everything. Thank you.

So help me love my foundational people well today. Help me receive their love and give my love without hesitation. It’s all from you, even when rumors of war seem to fill the air between us.

And I pray for my colleagues who are with me, ministering in this tumultuous time. I especially pray for those who have calls that have ended or are ending, well, in not great ways. So I pray for good dust-shaking stomps and emboldened hearts for colleagues and friends as they end a thing while something new may begin to take shape. The now and not yet can be so hard. And for misbehaving people who say rude things right to my face, Lord have mercy. Stir up our colleague’s hearts, along with our own. Give us faithful and true words to say and pray. Amen.

Deep breaths dear pastor, dear deacon, dear chaplain. And remember the promise that Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Don’t be afraid. But even if you are, even just a little bit – you are not alone. God is with you.