Prioritizing Sunday Mornings: Our Staff

Sunday mornings are a busy time at Nags Head Church for a majority of our partners, and that's a good thing. None are busier, however, than our staff.

As our church grows it becomes more and more necessary for our staff to be good stewards of our time. Back in the "old days" I could have conversations on Sunday mornings with just about everyone. But then we were a very small group. Now those kinds of conversations are limited at best. People are our first priority as a staff and as pastors. But on Sunday mornings other priorities may need to rise to the top.

The last thing we want is to be perceived to be rude or distant or disconnected. But let me share some reasons why Sunday mornings are not usually the right time to need our time.

All of us on staff have multiple responsibilities on Sundays. We arrive before 8AM and are typically in the building until 1PM, focusing on those needs. Where are our priorities?

• Andy is making sure everything from the nursery to Kids Church is running smoothly. He oversees a team of 20+ volunteers in 3 different "divisions" and often is needed to take care of things there. They are his first priority. On top of that, he at times plays in the band or runs our sound board. Add to that, he's a husband and father, needed to make sure his wife and three young kids get to where they need to be. He's also our youth pastor, and is on the look-out for new teenagers and families who may be in church to welcome them.

• Nathan is responsible for making sure everything in the worship gathering flows well. The band arrives by 7:30 and practices for an hour. Often there are technical issues with lighting or videos, etc. that need his attention. At the same time, his family is also coming in for worship. There are times in between the gatherings that he is making some adjustments to the music or order of the gathering.

• Rick is focused primarily on the sermon. He takes very seriously the fact that God's Word changes lives, and his duty is to deliver it clearly and accurately. While that sounds simple, it takes a lot of his attention. He's typically in his office around 7:30, looking over his notes and making sure he understands the flow of the service. What most people don't realize is that preaching is physically, emotionally and spiritually tiring. Ask our elders who don't do it on a regular basis! And as the Lead Pastor, he's most likely thinking about everything that's happening on Sunday morning, from the paper towels in the restrooms to praying for those who will hear God's Word. If he's "hiding" in his office, it's for a good reason.
  

• All three also are concerned about welcoming guests and answering their questions. We believe our "free time" in the lobby before and after each gathering should be used to allow us to be available to them. As leaders, we can't just say, "Everyone meet someone new". We also want to model that priority as well.

• Above all else, even for our staff, our first priority is to worship. With all the other things we need to do, worship for us requires greater focus because the other things can become distractions from putting our hearts around God's throne. Believe it or not, we probably have a harder time worshiping than most on Sundays because those duties can be distracting. So, like everyone, the fewer distractions we have the better able we are to really worship God. And, we know that if we are focused on worship, God will bless everything else we're doing.
  

That's where you can help us the most. Often we're pulled aside to talk about things that could be dealt with during the week. If something has made you concerned or unhappy, Sunday morning is not the time to get it resolved unless it is life or death or will somehow impede our purpose of worship that day.

So here are some helpful tips:

• Know your church's leadership and their areas of ministry. If you come to Rick about a Connection Group question he's going to refer you to Burnie. If you're looking for a ministry team to join find Tom Lee. Need to set up time with a counselor? Find Steve. But keep in mind that Steve's regular Sunday ministry is on the First Impressions team. So be brief. He's greeting guests! In Discovering Nags Head Church we go over our leadership structure. Please be familiar with it and save a step or two.

• Barbara Kay is our part-time office manager. But she isn't working in that capacity on Sundays. Like you, she's volunteering on her ministry team. And don't assume she knows the answer to your question. She will likely refer you to one of us, a ministry team leader or a pastor.
  

• If your question or concern doesn't require an immediate answer - and most do not - please call (441-7548) or email the pastor or staff leader (_______@nagsheadchurch.org) who can help you and set up an appointment to talk about it. Imagine if all 210 partners "needed" to talk to a leader on Sunday morning! In fact, it's much easier for our staff to remember things if you email us instead of mention something in passing on Sunday. Or you can drop a Communication Card in the basket.
  

• If you must share something with any of us on Sunday morning, please accept the fact that our time is limited. Often Rick has several people wanting to say something to him immediately after a gathering. That's why he usually hangs out in the auditorium. But please respect that others may need to speak to him as well, so keep it as brief as possible.

• Our staff and pastors are always available on Sunday for immediate needs and to pray with you or encourage you. Don't forget that we have 5 pastors, all of whom are glad to help as they can. Any of us can and will pray with you. But again, the key word there is immediate. Ask yourself, "Is this something truly pressing, or can it wait?".
  

So please understand why we guard our time on Sundays. We're not being rude. We are asking you to understand our responsibilities and priorities. Like you, we need to be good stewards of the time and faithful to the calling God has given us.