Formation—Easter

Be nice to the band. They never get to dance.

Tim Sitterley, Elder
River Road, Oregon, US

Early in my marriage my wife and I, along with a small group of friends, formed a band. We performed an eclectic mix of rock and country, with a heavy Jimmy Buffett vibe. There was never a risk of anyone offering us a recording contract, but we had fun and the majority of people who listened to us were polite.

On the strap of one of my guitars there was a small button that read, “Be nice to the band. They never get to dance.” Over the years I have thought of that saying often, both in pastoral ministry as well as worship ministry. It would come to mind as I looked out from the stage to see congregants clearly lost in worship … while I and my fellow musicians were preoccupied with remembering if the key modulation came before the musical bridge or after.

All pastors know the impact of sermon prep on a week-to-week basis, along with all the other moving parts of a Sunday worship gathering. But where the distraction of ministry really reared its head for me as a pastor would be before and during the major events on the Christian calendar.

During Advent and Holy Week, a pastor’s responsibilities multiply exponentially. Leaders in ministry are at risk of becoming overly focused on the needs of the congregants. We may be robbed of opportunities for personal spiritual formation during these significant events. And as the old saying goes, it’s hard to give what you don’t have.

Louise Kretzschmar, Professor of Theological Ethics at the University of South Africa, writes in her thesis about the impact of a performance culture in the Church that is taking a toll on the spiritual growth of clergy and ministry leaders. Dr. Kretzschmar writes:

…without spiritual formation one cannot speak of Christ-like leadership, but only the promotion of personal or group self-interest lightly masked by a veneer of religious observance.¹

She goes on to make the argument that when the leader is caught up in the performative aspects of their job, they begin to lose sight of the very message they are presenting. Then members suffer as well.

The elements of the approaching Holy Week can feel daunting to the pastor or facilitator of a small church or group. In many liturgies, on all eight days, from Palm Sunday to Easter, there is a celebration. In GCI, we tend to focus on the significance of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter. The additional celebrations can become overwhelming if not approached properly.

This is where the division of responsibility through the Avenue champions comes into play. The primary church leader should not have to worry if palm fronds were ordered in time. Many of the elements of each celebration can easily be handled by your Hope Avenue team. And your Love Avenue should see this week as the perfect time to reach out into the surrounding community with invitations.

But what about you? How do you allow the deep meaning and symbolism of Holy Week to impact you at a personal level?

I was at a pastor’s retreat once when the assignment was to spend a portion of the afternoon reading and meditating on a particular scripture. We were to allow the Holy Spirit to speak directly and specifically to us. So, the first question asked by the facilitator when we returned was “How many of you started to write a sermon?” Yes, you will likely have to prepare a couple extra messages during Holy Week. And while there should be a degree of personal awareness in those messages, we all know they are often more prescriptive than testimonial.

So, consider taking off your ministry leader hat whenever possible before and during the Passion season, and let the rich narrative speak directly to you. Perhaps take a deep dive into one of the other focus days of the week. Monday commemorates Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple. Tuesday revolves around Jesus parables, particularly the Olivet Discourse. Holy (Black) Saturday is a wonderful time for introspective meditation and reflection. Camp out on parts of the narrative that speak only to you.

Finally, consider stepping outside your immediate congregation. Almost every church in your city will have something to offer that you can personally benefit from. If your group doesn’t have a Maundy Thursday or Good Friday service, find a place to worship somewhere else. For several years now my wife and I have joined with a couple of hundred fellow believers for a community sunrise service.

My wish is that your Holy Week services are glorious and transformative for all who attend. But my ultimate wish is that the deep significance of the Passion story will touch you in some new and wonderful way. He is risen!

¹ The Indispensability of Spiritual Formation for Christian Leaders, Louise Kretzschmar