From Caroline - [email protected], 01285 712467
Readings for Sunday: Isaiah 66.10-14; Galatians 6.7-16; Luke 10.1-11, 16-20
This Sunday sees the arrival of the newest member of our community here at St Mary’s – the newly ordained Rev’d Vicky Falvey, come to learn and minister as our curate. It is a great joy to me, as I love to train and teach, and to be there to help and support someone grow in their ministry. A lot of people have asked if I am relieved to be having another pair of hands to help in the work of the parish, and I’m afraid I need to correct anyone who thinks that’s what having a curate is all about! No, being a training parish means a lot more work initially, as we train and guide this newly-minted minister, but which then offers fresh blessings as someone grows and is released to share their gifts in the service of God.
So this Sunday is a celebration for us as a parish, but it is a much wider celebration than that. Churches across the world are welcoming newly ordained servants of Christ, and we are reminded that our God is a God who calls. Our God calls us into service and mission, not just to be passive hearers of the Word, but active participants in his plan, labourers in his harvest field. This Sunday reminds us that his call continues to go out, and people continue to answer.
Nor is this call for people to serve as ordained ministers only. God calls people to all manner of roles in his service, in the body of Christ that is the Church. We all have work to do, collared or not! And Jesus reminds us in our reading from Luke’s Gospel that the service we offer is not for our own sake. We aren’t given gifts to just enjoy having those gifts. We enjoy those gifts because of what they represent – the fact that God is working in the world, and that his Kingdom is here, in all those moments of joy and faith.
This Sunday we welcome Vicky, and we pray that God will guide and bless her in this new shape of ministry she offers. And we pray for every follower of Christ in the wider world, called to the work of our God. May we be reassured, strengthened and settled in our faith – ready to give all we have to show his love and goodness in the world
Rev’d Caroline
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