“M.E.G.” (Mutual Encouragement Group)
In September of the year 2020 (does that year bring anything to mind?), the pastors of the Susquehanna Parish Ministry Group began to meet every other week on Thursday mornings from 10 AM to 11—11:30-ish for nothing other than support and conversation. This group continues to meet today, four years later. We meet in a Zoom format. I did not intend for the group to continue indefinitely and only thought it would meet once or perhaps twice a month. But after one or two meetings all agreed that we should meet every other week.
Those who regularly join in feel that these conversations are truly rich and life-giving. With no agenda other than to share whatever is on our hearts and minds, it does not take long for someone to share something personal, or ministry related that flows into excellent support, care, listening, and somehow encouragement.
When started MEG six months into the Covid-19 pandemic, some of our churches were experiencing various levels of pushback related to addressing structural racism. George Floyd was murdered by police in June and our perennial national sin was fully front and center. We pastors felt that we were under microscopes so meeting together to talk through what we were experiencing was a safe place to process and understand. Ideas were shared. Prayers were prayed. Books were recommended. You can imagine all that our brilliant pastors can offer to each other!
Some of our pastors have moved to other calls in other states occasionally pop back into a MEG meeting. We will continue MEG with no plans to end our every other week gatherings. Not only has it helped each of us individually, but I am sure it spills over to our churches, and the bonds of love and trust between the pastors of SPMG make our Ministry Group much more vital and important.
– Rev. Ray Meute, Pastor of Highland Presbyterian, Susquehanna Parish Ministry Group