As a young person in ministry, and as a person fairly newly ordained, I often find myself reflecting on the fundamental question, “What in the world am I doing here?”
Reckoning that I’m not alone in this — though am perhaps given more permission to wonder about these things, as a young clergy person — I’d be interested to hear a bit of your own musings on this question, and for us to hear a bit from each other. As this isn’t exclusively for ordained folks, but for all of us who try to find a meaningful connection between our faith and our action, I invite you to direct others to this post, as well.
If you’re willing, would you please take a few moments to reflect on and answer the following questions. Simply post your reply in the comment box.
Thank you, and God bless.
Questions to Consider:
I believe_______.
I believe God created me to________.
I thank God for________.
I serve God by________.
I serve others by________.
Do you serve the Church? Where? How?
What do you enjoy most? Least?
On what do you spend most of your time? Least?
Why did you decide to serve the Church?
Is your work with the Church satisfying?
If ‘yes,’ how so? If ‘no,’ why not?
What keeps you coming back?
What do you most want others to know about service with the Church?
Here endeth the questionairre.
Thank you for your time and energy!
January 23, 2007 at 9:22 am
I believe that there is something flowing through us, connecting us, allowing us to love one another if we can let it. I choose to call this the holy spirit and believe that Jesus Christ embodied it and made it a tangible idea.
I believe God created me so I could grow in what skills He gave me and try my best to connect with others, because in that connection is where we find common ground and hopefully peace with eachother.
I thank God for providing the means to connect with others: my family, the Bible, church, wonderful teachers, wonderful friends.
I serve God by simply trying to do my best.
I serve others by listening to them; and by not pushing my ideas on them.
Currently I serve the church by being on the Prov 8 College gathering planning team.
So far, I haven’t had much experience with it, but I enjoy the fellowship of my fellow planning members the most. I dislike being spread out over the province; communication is more difficult. I spend most of time emailing, the least of my time praying.
I decided to be on this planning team because I saw it as an opportunity to be involved and get to know others in the church better. Graduation is looming ahead and I want to make my own foundation in the church.
I do find being on this team to be satisfying. Others are thankful that I’m doing it. Also, it truly feels to be the right thing. During our first meeting that spanned over a weekend, we worked so well together. We definitely felt the Holy Spirit in the room, as part of the team. So far, it has been quite fulfilling.
I keep returning to the church because that is where I most feel the connectedness I mentioned in my first answer. That is where I feel like we are all the same in some way. I try to carry that feeling with me through the week.
I don’t think I have served the church long enough to offer words of wisdom about it.
January 23, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I believe. . .
in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end.
I also believe that . . .
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
Why don’t I use my “own” words? After struggling and falling in love with these words, I’ve made them my own and have nothing more concise to offer. (Actually, the last part, the Troparion of the Resurrectoin, took me captive the first time I heard it . . . )
I believe God created me to________.
Become Godly – to struggle, to love, to serve, to seek.
I thank God for________.
everything – or at least I’m trying to. I take a lot for granted, and have been known to be biter about my crosses.
I serve God by________.
Loving, opening myself to him and to others.
I serve others by________.
Being open to them. Listening, and from time to time risking opening my own mouth . . . (with fear and trembling , I hope)
Do you serve the Church? Where? How?
I do Children’s and Youth Ministry at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. I occasionally do work at the Diocesan level.
I also try to serve the church through Stewardship of my own life and resources – singing, teaching, tithing, gifting.
What do you enjoy most? Least?
Most? Worship and productive dialogue about the church, people’s lives, God, and Christ
Least? Living in a Divided Christendom and all of the implications that has from the Global to the parish level.
On what do you spend most of your time? Least?
Most? Researching and planning for programs.
Least? Worshipping, I think.
Why did you decide to serve the Church?
To get rich.
Is your work with the Church satisfying?
If ‘yes,’ how so? If ‘no,’ why not?
Yes and no. Yes – I have the blessing of a supportive Church family and great kids. I also have the conviction that, even though there is a lot of uncertainty right now about the future context of my life in the Church, my work right now is good and right and of God.
No – It never stops being challenging, frustrating, infuriating, etc. Neither should it, I suppose, as long as we are seeking God and truth and that which is good in a broken world.
What keeps you coming back?
If I have integrity and love truth (speaking for myself here) then there’s really no other choice.
What do you most want others to know about service with the Church?
Pray and move forward in faith and love. It’s easy to make it more complicated, but don’t. Never stop seeking God, even after you’ve found him, because he is inexhaustible.
January 25, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Paul,
Interesting survey. You mean you want us to profess our faith to each other AND everyone on the World Wide Web? Geesh… For some us, that’s a bit of a stretch. Maybe it’s time for some spiritual calisthenics:
I believe: “the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way…” (Whitney Houston, 1980-something). Kidding! I agree with Nick that the Nicene Creed says it all quite nicely. I also believe God is present in other people: in my baby’s belly laugh, in my toddler’s expressions, (i.e., “It’s okay, mama, I’m right hee-ah foh yoo.”) God is in my husband’s helpful hands and in the steady shoulders and big ears of my friends and family as they stand by me through tough times.
I believe God created me to be my husband’s partner, and raise my children to be kind and helpful. I believe God created me to love others as completely and selflessly as possible. I believe God created me to share my faith in the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I thank God for my husband, family, friends, and the beauty of nature, for laughter and chocolate, for long runs, short runs (actually, any run), for my son’s amazing birth, and for people who enter my life and unexpectedly change its course or impact my thoughts in a positive way.
I serve God by worshipping in community with others, welcoming other people to the church, trying to find new ways to help our community grow.
I serve others by listening, loving, and laughing with them.
Do you serve the Church? Where? How? I serve the Church in my role as an usher, in my work with the Capital Campaign, and the Young Adults and Families Group ( let’s face it, that’s not work, it’s a great social time!)
What do you enjoy most? Any gathering where food is involved. That would include communion, although unlike my daughter, I don’t ask for seconds…)
Least? Feeling a bit restless after a service because I haven’t been able to concentrate while my 2 antsy kids crawl all over me. We bring them out for the last half of the service, and the last time I tried to close my eyes while praying, my daughter said, “Mama, wake up!” So much for finding peace in church.
On what do you spend most of your time? Hmmmm…. in all honesty, I don’t spend a huge amount of time on church work. I’d have to say attending services, writing and socializing.
Least? Meditating/praying. Lately, I think about the prayers of one my favorite writers as ones I can easily offer: Morning prayer: “Whatever.” Evening prayer: “Oh, well.” (“Help me” works, too)
Why did you decide to serve the Church? 1) It seems like the right thing to do. 2) I was asked 3) It’s the right time in my life.
Is your work with the Church satisfying? Yes.
If ‘yes,’ how so? Because it provides me with a deeper connection to like-minded people who are much more learned and spiritual than I am.
What keeps you coming back? The food, the people, and the sense that I’m fulfilling God’s purpose.
What do you most want others to know about service with the Church? That being part of a community is infinitely more satisfying than praying alone. That you don’t have to attain a level of “worthiness” or knowledge to serve the Church; (otherwise, believe me, I would not be serving in any capacity whatsoever), just a willingness to grow in God’s love and learn from others.
February 14, 2007 at 5:58 pm
OK. I’m a little late in adding my thoughts. (And as for “Sundays @ 7, 20s and 30s” I left my 30’s behind a few months ago–hope I can crash the party anyway) Here it goes . . .
I believe the commandment to love is a trump card for the judgments we are tempted to make in the name of God.
I believe God create me to love (action, not feeling).
I thank God for the hard lessons learned.
I serve God by seeking to be a “repairer of the breach.”
I serve others by being with them, without denial, in the (often) hard realities of their lives.
Do I serve the church? I’m so new that I haven’t found a niche yet. I’m praying to stay open to whatever opportunity will best use my skills and spirit. I believe that participating with intensity in the Eucharist is part of serving the church. I’ve been away from corporate worship for a long time, so I’m reminding myself that I have a commitment to the body of Christ. Surprise!! It’s not all about me.
I most enjoy: singing the Psalm together each Sunday! I least enjoy: seeing how short I fall of my intentions in corporate worship when my mind wanders.
I spend most of my service time in worship and prayer right now. Least amount of time: direct service to the church (waiting for that nudge!). I suppose a lot of my work in my “day job” (especially working with families who’ve had a baby in intensive care) counts as service even though it doesn’t connect directly to the church. I feel like my spiritual life and work life are beautifully entangled.
Why did you decide to serve the church? Because I’ve joined the community. It’s not really an option if I’m to be a full member.
Is your work in the church satisfying?
Absolutely. I think that it’s really good for me to pursue worship and prayer as service. I’ve always been a “do-er” and not yet knowing exactly how I can directly serve the church is teaching me that service doesn’t have to involve compulsive busyness. In fact, sometimes that kind of busyness may not really be service at all.
What keeps you coming back?
I’ve finally found my spiritual home. It feels like a marriage: lots of work, not always harmonious, permanent, woven with joy, full of transformative power for both parties.
What do you most want others to know about service with the Church?
It’s another place to get a spiritual workout: to build the stamina, agility, and strength needed to reflect the Word into the world through our daily lives. I think intention in service (that is, being intentional) is as important as the acts themselves.