Our priests, Mr. and Mrs., have been teaching a section of "Christianity 101" that they named "Ministry". This is part of a series that has included "History", and "Worship". Ministry has had 5 sessions and this was the first I have been able to attend because this group has been held during Christian Education, and I've been facilitating the High School kids.
I wanted the High Schoolers to attend this session, because it was called, "Listening for God's Call", and we will be beginning a new unit named "What am I Called to Be?" Only three boys were here today, unfortunately, and one of them had to help in the nursery. But it was a good introduction to our next unit.
They began by reviewing the definitions of Ministry:
Then we got down to the nitty-gritty: what is our "calling" and how do we hear it? Patriarchs, prophets, all heard the voice of God fairly directly. Disciples heard and saw Jesus in the flesh. What about us? How do we know when we are being called to ministry? How do we even know when we are doing ministry?
The following are some hints:
We were given the task of looking at what we are doing right now, in church, family, work, and civic life. Do any of them fit the above? We were asked to think about the obstacles right now that prevent us from doing ministry, and how we might overcome them. Finally, we were to ask ourselves if there is anything in our lives we might call ministry if we changed our attitude about it.
We spent about 10 minutes in silence, thinking about all this, and then, in pairs, sharing our reflections. We were to help each other discern the current or future ministries we might engage in.
I shared with a member of my discernment group. He is a thoughtful, prayerful Christian. As we had just gone through this process (over a 3-month time) for me, I suggested we concentrate on his reflections. I was amazed to hear that he keeps having the feeling he should become a missionary. He is nearly my age, and has been having this "nudge" for a few years and has always dismissed it. He is now having dreams about preaching the word to the disenfranchised. The other night he had a very strong dream about finding himself in a series of dark tunnels under a large city, where people of high intelligence, but badly broken and twisted bodies, were forced to live. When he approached these people and began to talk about God and Jesus to them, they were so appreciative that it made him cry. He sat upright in bed, wide awake, with tears streaming down his face.
He feels he does not "know enough" to minister to others. I reminded him that Simon and Andrew knew only fishing when they were called to follow Jesus. As we talked, he began to see some options. I suggested that he find a couple of good friends who might pray with him for a few weeks to help him see what God is asking him to do. He is a very shy man, and preaching from a pulpit is not his cup of tea. But one-on-one, he would be comfortable. He also feels that whatever his call is, it is to minister to men. I said, "Like the men at the Mission?" He stopped for a minute. "Yes," he said, "but I wouldn't know how." "Why don't you just ask the leaders at the Mission what they need that you could do?"
It was an exciting moment for both of us. This man has no idea how powerful his message is, especially because he is a quiet worker behind the scenes.
Later this afternoon, we were invited to a "Just Desserts" party at the home of some friends. I got into a conversation there with a man who explored the priesthood a couple years after I got turned down by our former Rector. We talked about our experiences. He was given the green light by the Rector; I was blocked by him. He decided, after visiting seminary, that it wasn't the "right time" for him. I am now on the seminary track. Life is funny. I asked him if he had thought of the Diaconate (I think the idea of seminary scares him). He hadn't. I told him Mr. and Mrs. Priest are eager to support someone from the Parish entering the Diaconate. In the meantime, I invited him to join me when I take communion to a shut-in. He had that training two years ago, and still hasn't gotten involved in that ministry.
He is also usually a quiet man. I think he has been afraid to work as a Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM), even though he had the training. If he will come with me, he will see just how easy and rewarding a ministry it is. And once he sees that, perhaps he'll begin to find his way again.
On a final note: I mentioned in my "birthday" entry that I had taken communion to an elderly gentleman in the hospital that day. He was a "sometime" church-goer. When Mrs. Priest had seen him in the hospital a couple days before, she didn't have the communion kit with her. She felt he might like to have communion, even though he hadn't been to church in years. When I arrived with the kit, and asked him if he would like to have communion, behind the oxygen mask he smiled and nodded.
I prepared the table, and with the nurse's OK, proceeded with the short service we use for the hospital. I took his hand as I read the prayers, and he hung on for dear life. I had to remove my hand to administer the elements. Afterwards, I laid hands on him for healing. He kept saying thank you, over and over again, holding tightly to my hand. When I left, I said, "I will see you in church." He shook his head, again behind the mask, and pointed to the ceiling. I said, again, "In church!" and left.
He died two nights later. I hope I never take this ministry for granted, EVER!
Life is poignant, but good. Thanks be to God. Amen.
6:16 PM
Probably this should really go into my spiritual journal, but as it is about discussions I had today, I'm putting it in Manatee Spirit.
1) What we do in response to what God has done for us.
2) Connecting our gifts with the world's deep need.
3) Everything we do after we say, "Thanks be to God!"
4) Your own definitions..."Fulfilling God's dream for His people" is mine that I lifted from an Episcopal Community Services meeting.
1) Ministry is always about serving God and others.
2) We test it through prayer and Bible study.
3) We feel a sense of joy, even when this makes no sense.
4) We may feel an impulse that won't go away, even when we want it to.
5) Lots of people start telling us the same thing.
6) Our current gifts are used and developed, and new ones are discovered.
7) This ministry brings out our best selves.
8) We may face obstacles, even persecution, but still:
9) Ministry bears fruit, often beyond our wildest imagination.
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