I dont understand anymore

[polkaman]

I attend a medium size church...
But i am not feeling good about
It anymore. First, the janitor quit,
Since i just to fill in for an emergency
I said i would try to keep things
Going...well im still going almost
Every day and doing stuff....no other
Members will help...not even water
The flowers....oh by the way..no pay.
They offered...but the number of hours
They offered to pay is about half the
Time it takes...there is a special celebration comming up that they
Can not organized...nobody in charge.
The preacher is overworked...gets
There at 7 am...leaves at 8 pm.
The thing that broke the camels back...
We have refreshments after the late
Service...the chipboard went around
To over 125 people...nobody signed.
This has been done for years.
Some now ask why needed... because
Its fellowship.
I just am having a hard time feeling
The lord lord right now.

 

[Tempura]

Oh no. Praying for you and your church and everyone involved. Stay strong brother.

 

[Tolworth John]

Can not organized...nobody in charge.
The preacher is overworked...gets
There at 7 am...leaves at 8 pm.
The thing that broke the camels back...
We have refreshments after the late
Service...the chipboard went around
To over 125 people...nobody signed.
This has been done for years.

Just what is the preacher doing for 13 hours a day?
If no one signs to bring refreshments, then there are no refreshments. Hang the sign up sheet in perfect view and learn the mantra.
'I am a cleaner, not a catering assistant.'

Seriously talk to the minister, something is seriously wrong if people won't water the flowers or help provide a cup of coffee and a buiscuit.

Start looking for another church and while doing that bill them for the hours you work. If it isn't paid, work the hours you are paid.

To complainers remind them that the bible says the labourer is worthy his pay, and you only pay for 'x' hours work.

 

[Albion]

polkaman,

At the very least, try not to feel like you are the only one who has run into this. The situation you report is very familiar; it happens in congregation after congregation.

That isn't going to be a solution for you, but you definitely are not alone or at fault, or anything else like that which might have crossed your mind. Nor is there an easy answer about what might turn things around.

People have just gotten used to showing up for an hour or so and then nothing until next week. I have known pastors who changed churches in frustration over this very thing.

It may be, though, that your pastor has tried to pick up the slack basically by himself and with you helping; he could instead give a try at being more assertive in bringing the issue to the congregants, using his position of influence.

 

[dayhiker]

I wanted to click a sad moji on the OP .. but alas its unchristian to be sad!

 

[com7fy8]

Every day and doing stuff....no other
Members will help...not even water
The flowers....oh by the way..no pay.

How do you feel about the church?

The preacher is overworked...gets
There at 7 am...leaves at 8 pm.

How do you feel about the pastor?

If you believe in the pastor and trust the pastor, this can be enough.

In my case, I trust our leaders. I might put out or put away chairs by myself; but I love our people, and I know they work all week and might have little time for their families and for seeing their special friends at church. So, I even have told people to first make sure you share with your special people who bless you and ones you are helping.

Be like Mary at Jesus's feet, who first made sure she was hearing Jesus and not only run-run-running around doing things like her sister Martha.

And people have listened to me and often leave me by myself to do the chairs!! But I have all week to be with my lady friend and I am not obligated to work. Also, often, I might come into the church to do something, and think I am by myself; but right then ones who love me and honor and encourage me come in to do something, and we share, and I see how God timed us so we would be with each other for love; so I am rewarded with love.

And young people are coming to help me, now; and we talk.

And there is a guy who says I brought him to Jesus, and he has been helping me, even though I have told him to make sure he shares with different people who are good for him and ones he is helping. But, still, he helps me, and he even takes longer so he can talk with me more time But then there have been times when I am busy with something personal to help someone, or helping with something beside the chairs; so I be like Mary and leave the chair work to wait, but he does it and he tells people to make sure they first share with one another in loving and bonding.

So, what is worth your commitment so you are satisfied with God and love? If the Holy Spirit has you pick up a piece of paper and drop it in the trash . . . how much is this worth, if the Holy Spirit has you do this? How many universes of gold and silver are enough to pay the value of the Holy Spirit having you put a piece of trash in a trash barrel?

And when you do what God has you doing, you will discover who He has you sharing with. You are not alone, while we do God's will; we share as His family.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I just am having a hard time feeling
The lord lord right now.

Don't trust feelings.

Instead, seek the truth, and keep seeking the truth, and God says , it is His Promise, that you will find the truth, and the truth will set you free..... (then the great sorrow, unlimited joy, perfect peace, are all gifts from Him when this happens) ... i.e. feelings not to trust, but resulting from finding the truth, trusting the Father in heaven.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I wanted to click a sad moji on the OP .. but alas its unchristian to be sad!

Jesus says "BLESSED are those who mourn" and "weep with those who weep", etc....

 

[gaara4158]

I wanted to click a sad moji on the OP .. but alas its unchristian to be sad!

Jesus wept.

 

[polkaman]

Thank you everyone for your answers
Yes, many church's and organizations
Have the same problem.
I think it the people...they keep saying
"Look out for yourself first...
So what does that say ?
The pastor is running as fast as he
Can.
Matter of fact a few weeks ago...the
Pastor did the speach on "mary"

 

[polkaman]

M

 

[SkyWriting]

I attend a medium size church...
But i am not feeling good about
It anymore. First, the janitor quit,
Since i just to fill in for an emergency
I said i would try to keep things
Going...well im still going almost
Every day and doing stuff....no other
Members will help...not even water
The flowers....oh by the way..no pay.
They offered...but the number of hours
They offered to pay is about half the
Time it takes...there is a special celebration comming up that they
Can not organized...nobody in charge.
The preacher is overworked...gets
There at 7 am...leaves at 8 pm.
The thing that broke the camels back...
We have refreshments after the late
Service...the chipboard went around
To over 125 people...nobody signed.
This has been done for years.
Some now ask why needed... because
Its fellowship.
I just am having a hard time feeling
The lord lord right now.

Growing Churches hire more staff including a permanent volunteer organizer. The custodial staff can be a "charity" case in some instances.

The volunteer organizer learns about each person and the type of rewards they like. There are about 4 types of reward systems that make people feel appreciated that don't require money.

If you are not feeling appreciated, it's because your pastor is lazy.
You should tell him/her about all this and leave if his response is not satisfying.

 

[polkaman]

Thank you all for your thoughts. Ive
Visited with other churchs, and organizations
Same problem...no member participation.
For helping with things, to even being
On boards..
I guess it gets to me when it is ones church..
The attitude....the thought of attending
A service once a week, and throwing
In a check in the plate is all that is needed.
I dont think its the pastor....the man is
Busy all the time...and so is his wife.
Just this past week...we were helping
A family in need...he was up at 6 am,
It is almost a 200 mile trip...we got
Home at 10 pm...as we arrived... hospice
Called...he is one of the few pastors
Here that will go to the home, or others,
Whenever called...no matter day or
Night...he got home around 1 am
The person passed away...and he
Talked to the family.
The next day, an early morning meeting
The pastor running late... people complain
Pastor not there right on the button !
In theory...we are big enough to have
2 pastors... according to the conference...
But the locals say the money is not
There.
So...long story short....i feel its the people.

 

[dayhiker]

One of the things that I feel a lot is that people are expected to work so hard at work and often a lot of hours that we are burned out so evenings and weekends are needed to recover. Some people aren't even paid a much for working that hard. Then a church wants them to volunteer hours on the weekend .. its just not in them to do that.