What Shall I Say?

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

There is a small little book sitting on my desk at the moment called What Shall I Say? Discerning God’s Call to Ministry. The book is quite literally falling apart at this point. Even though my call to ministry was discerned many years ago, I still find myself going back to refer to it. There is something about re-reading it that reminds me of what God is calling me to do and be.

Recently, I had the privilege of having dinner with 12 young adults who are discerning their own calls to ministry. Amidst much food and laughter, there was conversation about what it means to be called by God and the church to public ministry. Listening to these young adults, I was inspired by the many ways that God is working in their lives and calling to them.

Discernment is not just something for pastors or future pastors. Discernment is the work of all of the people of God. God calls each one of us to do the work of God in the world.

What is it that God is calling you to do? Think about it. Pray about it. Talk to others about it. And then, filled with the grace God, go off and do it!

Growing Grass, Growing Faith

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

Earlier this summer, I tried to grow some grass in the front yard of the parsonage. Now, I will admit upfront that I am not much of a gardener, but figured that even I could handle a little bit of grass seed. I scattered the seed on the lawn and waited for something to happen. You have to water it everyday, people kept saying to me.

I was quite diligent the first few days about watering my little seeds. Each night I would go out, turn on the hose and stand there watering. Quickly, however, this routine grew tiring and before long I realized that it had been several days since the hose had been turned on. Needless to say, my grass seed never sprouted.

Growing faith, it seems, is a lot like growing grass. We have each been given seeds of faith, planted in us by God, the heavenly gardener. These seeds are then left to us to be tended and nurtured. They need to be fed regularly with the bread and wine of Holy Communion, nurtured by study of scripture and cultivated by gathering as part of a community of believers for worship. These are not meant to be occasional things, but regular parts of our daily lives. How are your faith seeds growing? Hopefully, much better than my grass!