Finding Peace and Joy

Do not forget all his benefits. Psalm 103:2

Jesus called his disciples to follow him. They didn’t have a clue what they were getting into—like me when I got my first job in the church. Before my children were born I worked for the social service agency in our county and had daily exposure to child neglect, seniors struggling to stay in their homes, and single moms trying to live on a welfare check. Years later when the pastor of my church approached me about a part-time job, I figured working in the church would be a cakewalk compared with working in a public agency. This might be a fun job and so peaceful!

It didn’t take long for the honeymoon to end. I began to wonder if this was the job for me. There was never enough time to finish everything in my in-box and not everyone who called the office wanted to tell me what a great job I was doing. The joy of working for clergy dissipated a bit when I found out he was as human as my own husband, and just as disorganized.

The first churches I served were single-pastor parishes. I fell in love with the volunteers who showed up and worked hard. Sometimes they brought homemade chocolate chip cookies! I soon realized that the joy I found working in the church emanated from those who already had the peace I’d been seeking.

When serving in the large church, my workweek was full of challenges and surprises. On Friday evenings as I left my office I’d stop and look at the neatly stacked pile of worship booklets ready for the ushers. It always gave me a sense of pride and relief! I’d leave the church with Peace and on the drive home, Joy lifted my spirits. By Monday morning I looked forward to going back to work and doing it all over again.

Lord, you make all things possible, over and over again,

Worry, Sorry & Faith
He assigned a guardian angel to each of them. Deuteronomy 32:8


One day I received an e-mail forwarded from a friend who wrote, “You’ll want to see this one!” Most often I delete the dozens I get each week, but curiosity got the best of me and I opened the attachment. Three animated angels flew in front of me, dancing to music that could have lulled me to sleep. Each angel had a name and a caption: Worry looks around; Sorry looks back; Faith looks up!

The message went on to say, “These three angels are sent to you, yada, yada, yada, send them on, etc., etc.” This is a keeper, I thought, and forwarded it to three friends—one who worries about every little thing, one who obsesses over every decision, and another who is an example of how to live by faith.

During the day I imagined Worry shaking her head and finger at me as I fretted about how I’d be able to get two rooms set up for meetings, make coffee, and order lunch for the Synod Executive Committee while answering four telephone lines!

I pictured Sorry with her head bowed and hands folded, praying for me, "Help Linda figure out she doesn’t have to play God.”

I invited Faith to ride on my shoulders and massage the heaviness and stress with her heavenly hands.

I came to realize that when I trusted God, my own abilities, and other staff members to help me get through a busy day, I could give Worry and Sorry the day off.


Dear Lord, thank you for sending Angels to
watch over us while we work—especially Faith,

Advent Miracles

God has a surprise for you: You [Mary] will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. Luke 1:29


Advent is a short season filled with surprises and drama. The curtain opens with two pregnant women—one “beyond her time” and the other who had never “been with a man.” The plot thickens when Elizabeth and Zechariah name their baby John and later when Mary and her fiancé Joseph take off to register for the census right at the end of her pregnancy!

The church sets the stage to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The cast of characters (and some of them are characters) consists of normal folks—pastors, church musicians, administrators, maintenance people, and lots of volunteers. We don’t have stories as amazing as Mary and Joseph’s, Elizabeth and Zechariah’s, but we all have an important role in preparing worship for Christmas.

Support staff and volunteers work hard in the office and endure fellow workers and members who are stressed because of shopping, making too many commitments, and not getting enough rest. One day a crabby member complained about standing in line at the post office for an hour. I bit my tongue and wondered, How about me? I haven’t written a card or started my shopping. I’ll be mailing packages after Christmas. Again!

The Advent scene is replayed every year in the office—the busyness, interruptions, and surprises. Each year I rely on the magic words, “Lord, help me!” The miracles of Christmas always happen. By the time the last supporting cast member leaves to go home on Christmas-Eve day, worship booklets are stacked in trays next to boxes of little candles ready the worshippers—and the wonder of the Silent Night, Holy Night.


Dear God of Advent, bless those who wait, watch, and prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus,