A Pastor's Blessing

Often in ministry we are blessed with an insider view of God’s grace and His working in the lives of individuals.  Pastor Kathy Dana shares her experience with this blessing. Thank you, Kathy for sharing with us.
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A view from the communion table

Written by Pastor Kathy Dana

​The calling to be a pastor is an awesome privilege. We become part of the lives of people God has entrusted to us. We hold very intimate details of their lives. It can be hard. It can be lonely. Yet, it is the greatest blessing of our life's calling.
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Among those blessings, I am thankful for the pastor's blessing of the view from the communion table.  God revealed this blessing to me on Christmas Eve a few years ago. I was serving the elements at the communion table and as I waited, I looked over the congregation. The Holy Spirit revealed to me the precious saints preparing for communion. I have had the privilege of ministering to many of them through their most difficult seasons of life.  I was overwhelmed with the revelation of how God had brought them through.

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​I have seen God's work in their lives, and now they stand together to celebrate at the communion table. We remember together Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, His death and resurrection to redeem the world. We celebrate the love and goodness of God.

As pastors we see...

• Those who have walked in faith through trials of life and have come out as overcomers!
• Couples who trusted God, and with His help, didn't give up. They submitted to the Holy Spirit and God restored their marriage.
• Families who lost a family member, spouse, sibling, and even the unthinkable, the loss of a child.  We see how God brings them through, even with joy, knowing their loved one has eternal peace with the Lord.
• An individual with a difficult health diagnosis still raises their hands and praises God even while going through the trial of an unknown outcome. We even see their loved ones standing next to them in faith.
• Those living with long-term disability or chronic illness, but joyfully enduring in faith with an awesome testimony of God's grace in their lives.
• Individuals battling on their knees against depression and mental illness, week after week coming to the altar in faith, asking for prayer and encouragement, becoming overcomers for God's glory!
• People with hands raised and voices worshipping, knowing God is sovereign and His grace is enough to bring us through when we trust in Him.

​As pastors and ministry women, we are blessed to see all these things and more. The view from the communion table is a gift from God – a glimpse of God’s glory revealed through His people.
 

Jump into the conversation:

• Share with us in the comments a blessing you have observed from the ministry view?

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Pastor Kathy Dana serves as the Congregational Care Pastor at Mission Church in Holmes, NY. She retired in 2013 after a 33 year career in health care as director of cardio-pulmonary services and hospital administration.  She enjoys serving in missions as well as traveling for recreation.
She enjoys spoiling her two grandchildren, Thomas and Maxwell, and her daughter, Sarah, as much as she can! 
 

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