Pastoral Leadership Seminar Final Writings

Since September 2020, a group of us having been slowly reading Eugene Peterson's The Contemplative Pastor. Our group includes a retired pastor, an active pastor, two seminarians, and seven who are exploring a pastoral vocation. 

For more information about our work, check out our website at https://www.trinitysanpedro.org/pastoralleadershipseminar

Peterson's book ends with a chapter titled, "Poets and Pastors." Every week we have a prompt, and this week's was to share a bit of creative writing reflective of something we read from this book. I asked the group if I could share any of their work, and here is a taste of it. 

Donald Davis

A call to one to put on flesh,

To go to earth to dwell.

His answer was obedience to His Father's will.

He cast aside his holy crown,

He cast aside his robes. 

He came to earth in flesh as man,

To show us how to grow.

A call on us the Lord has placed, 

To walk as Jesus walked.

To call to others as we go,

To lead the best we can.

The job that we are called to do,

Though heavenly is a lowly one.

Not practiced in ivory towers,

Not preached from mountain tops.

It's living life with others, 

Right here where life is lived.

In mundane conversations, 

In tasks that seem so menial.

Sharing life and death,

With souls we've come to love,

The sorrow and celebration,

We share with our extended family.

Not in heaven or on some unearthly plane,

It's right here in our neighborhoods.

We proclaim His holy name.

Herb Hoff

The Melting of a Wall

The idea was terrific from many miles away

Words of hope, a gift of love for family hidden by a wall 

As miles grew fewer that Wall grew large

And days got longer too.

That Wall was now my dreaded fright

Controlling day and night.

That brave strong heart that once was mine Grew cold like melting snow.

What if my secret mission was revealed for all to see? What if officials found the books in words I could not read? To break the law, to bring the Word

Was such a noble plan

But now the Wall was, oh, so near

And fear was close at hand.

That brave strong heart that once was mine Grew cold like melting snow.

I walked the paths of Huemoz with snow upon my shoes I sang the song of David, the one called Thirty-Four

He touched my heart and lifted high

One bigger than any wall.

Attention now was strong on Him I could follow His given path.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes it’s boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt His name together!

and let us exalt His name together!

I sought the LORD, and He answered me And delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:1-4

Now the way is clear for me, my heart is free to walk

The way that seemed so bright before had no more wall to block. He brought us through, he blocked their eyes

Our gifts they did not see.

That brave strong heart I thought was mine Now new my strength was Him.

Herb Hoff remembering God’s faithfulness in February 1972 as I brought gifts through the Iron Curtain to Believers in Yugoslavia, Hungary and Bulgaria. The change of heart came outside the home of Francis Schaeffer in Huemoz, Switzerland.

Kierra Blackstad

Emma Wollan

To be a shepherd

A shepherd must eat well

To feed the hungry flock

Needs time in word and prayer

So as to stand upon the rock

Of ages past and present

God holds his people close

Making grace the focus

Of that which the shepherd speaks of most

The source of life for all

Is in the Wisdom of God

Walking this earth in Jesus

Though most thought him a fraud

What this world values

Is not always the same

As what the shepherd sees

And has the duty to proclaim

So hold fast to the anchor

Like the kelp grips the rock

And speak the words of truth

Wearing wisdom as your frock

Adversity will come

And your well may dry up

But look to Him who fills, even

overflows your empty cup

For Jesus is your shepherd king

The keeper of your soul

He searches you out and rings you in

To keep you from the cold

Keep unbusy; keep alert

With ears open and heart prepared

Because you have been given a job

To make the enemy run away, scared.

Per Anderson

Ben Sides

Heaven's the Dreams

Ye who are weary, come in from the cold,

Keep your eyes wide to the wisdom of old.

Ye who are restless, come sit by my fire,

Earth’s are the voices and heaven’s the choir.

Hark, can you hear on the wings of the wind?

He who has spoken is speaking again.

Borne on the murmurs of rivers and streams:

Earth’s are the dreamers and heaven’s the dreams.

Ye who are hopeless, come wonder anew,

Miracles happen for miscreants, too.

Ye who are empty, come fill every need,

Earth’s is the Garden and heaven’s the seed.

Wander the ways of the woods and the wilds,

Say what you see with the eyes of a child,

Rollicksome, worrisome, frantic or free:

Earth’s are the sailors and heaven’s the sea.

Ye who are broken, come bind up your pain,

Sacred and scarred are, quite often, the same.

Ye who are burdened, come lighten your load,

Earth’s is the journey and heaven’s the road.

Nothing is nothing—no, nothing at all—

Everything just a response to the Call.

Keep your eyes wide, all is more than it seems:

Earth’s are the dreamers and heaven’s the dreams.

Nathan Hoff

The pastor should wear clothing that’s right

I don’t mean looking like a catechism acolyte

Nor do I care about bishops who frown

On priests who wear black shoes instead of brown

I’m also not fussy about robes or not

Academic, ecclesial, handmade or store bought

I mean not confusing the job’s uniform

And putting on another to conform

To law enforcement’s badge and gun

Making the lawless duck and run

Nor the business person’s suit designed to impress

With fat expense budget and busy success

No white coat with prescription pad bearing

Inspecting palpating with medicine sharing

Nor apron of craftsman with creation tools

As if we could make or break or restore these fools

The clothes that we wear 

Are gifts from the Lamb who will bear

All our sins to absorb

Clothed in Christ Jesus our Lord

The garment received before even knowing

Baptized cleansed, then irrigated, growing

Is the same robe that covers it, covers them all

Raising us and all who are dead from their fall

So put on Christ, and his ministry too

For no other cloths in your wardrobe will do.

Steven Wagner