Things it is better not to say

If you are going to complain that Methodist Ministers don't come to the social events at your Church then I suggest that you do not say it to a minister who has been out working 11 of the past 14 evenings. It is just possible that your comment may not be appreciated :-)

Oh and it should have been 12 nights out not 11, but one night I got in at 7:30 and did not have time or energy to go out to a meeting that started at 7:30 in another town 5 miles away.

Comments

[Sam Norton]

Ha! Quite so.

[Sally]

well said...

[Rachel]

Dave, I just think you weren't trying hard enough :o) !!

[Dave]

Thanks guys.

And Rachel, I can go off people ;-)

[fat prophet]

You are absolutely right in what you say here. I think that part of the problem though is that for many of our folk they think the 'Minister' is only their minister and forget he or she may have a number of churches and however many meetings we have at our church are multiplied for the minister.
On top of that there is the old chestnut that ministers only work one day a week!

[Dave]

Fat Prophet.

All true.

People also forget Fresh Expressions (which often happen in the evening), collaborative working (which if with people who are working will usually happen in the evening), funeral visits (which will usually happen in the evening if with people who are working) and the same for baptisms, weddings etc etc.

[PamBG]

Hah! When I were a lad, not only did I have to be two places at once, but I had to walk 20 miles to get there!

[Dave]

Pam,

"When I were a lad"

Oh!

Pity you did not get that comment it a few hours earlier. Would have made a good talking point on International Womens Day.

[Graham]

As a sporadic visitor to your blog, I really did not want to comment on this....

....10 years into Methodist Ministry (and by no means a paragon of virtue in terms of time)... I cannot see this as a healthy pattern to be in even temporarily.

I hope it gets easier soon and you are able to cross out some meetings!

(Sorry- I hate leaving stuff on blogs which looks like it is condemning in any way but I have experienced what this pattern can do)

[Dave]

Graham

I totally agree that my pattern over a few months has not been as healthy as it should be. There are good reasons for that and so I have been willing to do this and accept the potential consequences.

However, in terms of healthy patterns it is obviously over simplistic to look only at evening meetings. I am delighted to be part of mission & discipleship events in the evening. They are part of what brings me life, part of my calling as a minister.

So for me it is encouraging and life giving to have lots of evening events - providing they are mission & discipleship based.

So I need to find a way to be healthy that allows me to do evening meetings, because for so many people that is the only opportunity to reach them with the gospel.

I think it is possible to be healthy in your lifestyle while working evenings. So for example as much as possible I avoid early morning meetings and I protect my day off.