With Labor Day tomorrow and the start of the church programmatic year following it, the shared work of ministry has been on my mind. From church staff reigniting their programming, to the daycare welcoming tearful children and parents for their first day of school, to volunteers reviving their small groups from their summer slumber, I’m struck by the reality that ministry is always a shared endeavor.

However, one area of ministry that can often be left to (or hoarded by) a minister and a musician is leading worship. But over the last year, as the new pastor here at The Community Reformed Church of Colonie, I’ve been repeatedly moved—even to tears—by portions of worship that I had no part in planning or leading: the elder and deacon prayers. 

Starting under the leadership of the previous minister, the Rev. Bruce Cornwell, the currently serving elders and deacons of the Consistory here are expected to share in the work of worship leading by writing and leading prayers during worship. 

Every Sunday, an elder writes and leads a prayer of intercession for the congregation, and a deacon writes and leads a prayer for our context and world. In these prayers, elders have given the struggling and grieving faith-language for their misery, and deacons have prayed for the church’s finances and needs. 

But don’t think the scope of these prayers is ever narrow. Name a topic and we’ve prayed for it: suicidality, employees and employers, the abused, housing injustices, those persecuted for their faith, climate disasters and work, forgiveness, immigrants, perseverance, war and peace.

What I especially love is when these office-bearers “find their voice” through their creativity. From the aching words of a rewritten psalm, to using Taylor Swift’s lyrics as a refrain, to always starting their prayer with “Good morning, God. It’s us again: The Community Reformed Church of Colonie…” Like watching a dancer, it’s a joy to behold someone doing something so beautiful.

Maybe selfishly, I particularly cherish that these prayers often take me out of that suffocating “performance-mode,” and I can instead simply be present and worship alongside everyone else.

Now, do the elders and deacons always love doing this? No. Is it hard? Yes. But is it worth it? Absolutely. Not only are these elders and deacons growing in their faith and leadership of the church, but they are also expanding the breadth and depth of worship beyond what I could provide alone. And, by weaving in the scriptural texts and themes from the service and using their own voice, I am certain that the congregation is more engaged in the communal “work” of worship, too.

So, beyond sharing the embarrassment of riches I experience here, let me encourage you—especially you pastor-types out there: share the work of worship leading. I’m confident that you’ll be surprised by how the Spirit works when you give others the opportunity to step up and share in the work of leading worship.

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When I’ve been asked by elders and deacons for resources, I have often given them The Worship Sourcebook and Worship Words: Discipling Language for Faithful Ministry (Engaging Worship) by Debra and Ron Rienstra.