Q: I’ve been serving in my current position for 6 years and have been in church ministry for 15 years. When my alarm clock goes off on Sunday, it feels no different from when I get up for a workday. Since I have job responsibilities on Sunday, I’m on duty for most of the morning. I don’t ever feel like I get a Sabbath’s rest. How do I serve in ministry and still have my Sundays for worship?

A: With church leaders often serving very long hours, it’s not unusual to feel like you never get time away from work. Even if you have (and take) a day off during the week, you’ll need to be intentional about making your Sabbath a day of worship. Here are a few suggestions to help you keep the faith—and your job!

Keep Sunday Simple. Try to minimize your Sunday workload. Do as much preparation as possible on Friday or Saturday, and limit Sunday activity to only what’s necessary. Refrain from using worship time as the opportunity to discuss church business, make recruitment invitations, plan meetings, or attend to other items that can be done during the week. The temptation is that Sunday may be the one time each week when you can cross these items off your to-do list, but it creates a culture of work—not worship. Have your entire church leadership (paid and unpaid) join you in this effort so everyone dedicates Sunday for worship, education, and outreach to guests.

Designate a Worship Time. Does your church offer multiple worship opportunities? Just as you guard your day off, select a worship time to attend with your family and keep that time free from other commitments. Last Easter I discovered one of my volunteers crying in the kitchen because she spent the whole morning serving and didn’t have time to attend worship. I understood at that point how easy it is to fill Sunday with the business of ministry rather than the purpose of worship. If your church only offers one worship time, you’ll need to make it clear that you (and all your volunteers) will be attending the service.

Personal Sabbath Experience. Are you a morning person? When I served in full-time church leadership, I would get up at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday for personal meditation time. I tried to start the day with the focus on Jesus and worship, knowing that I’d face work-related issues once I arrived at church. Schedule time each Sunday to be alone with God. I’m hoping you spend time each day in prayer and God’s Word, but you’ll need to be more intentional on Sundays so you don’t jump into work mode as soon as the alarm goes off. In his book Made for a Mission, David A. Posthuma states, “Your relationship with God is not about how many minutes you spend in devotions, or how long you pray, or the good works you do each day. God simply wants to walk and talk with you continually in the garden of your life.”

Alternative Growth Opportunities. If you find yourself always on duty each Sunday, you may need to consider attending a neighboring church for worship. Do any churches in your area offer a Saturday or Sunday evening worship option? It may be good for you to attend an alternative worship opportunity so you can just worship as a guest, rather than a staff person. It’s always good to visit area churches to get a visitor’s perspective on their worship and programs. You may also consider attending a community Bible class such as Bible Study Fellowship (www.bsfinternational.org) for spiritual growth outside your own church community—where you can be a student instead of the teacher.

As a full-time church minister, it’s not easy keeping the Sabbath a day of rest in the Lord—but it can happen. Your intentional efforts to make this happen will reap the harvest of joyful service. When that Sunday morning alarm rings, remind yourself it’s the Lord’s Day—and focus on Jesus.

“Thank you for the wide variety of issues you cover. I always learn something, or am reminded of something, that's pertinent to my situation. ”

— Katie Peken,
     Carlton, Victoria,
     Australia