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St. Charles Episcopal Church – St. Charles, IL
The Second Sunday after Epiphay – Sunday, January 17, 2010
Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11
Liz Ryan, Director of Youth & Children's Formation

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Sounds like Paul is talking about St. Charles Episcopal Church! There are certainly a lot of “gifts”, “services” and “activities” around here!

For anyone who doesn't know me, I'm Liz Ryan and I have the joy of being the Director of Youth & Children's Formation here at St. Charles. I am a 4^thgeneration Episcopalian and have heard that reading at least once, every three years of my life. When I was younger...it was just Paul...talking to those people in Corinth. Now I find this passage from 1 Corinthians exciting and inspiring. It gives me a feeling of anticipation... What gifts? What services? What activities? Tell me! Show me! And it gives me a sense of comfort...the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God is at the center of them all!

In this letter Paul was addressing the concerns the church of Corinth was experiencing. They had questions about the “abilities” they found among one another in their community. I imagine they wondered if the people had natural skills or if the talents they had were really gifts from God. Paul tells them “Yep, when you were pagans you were headed in the wrong direction. But now you know Jesus is Lord and anyone who believes that is filled with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit has given you gifts. All of you. And those gifts come in all kinds and are to be used for the good of all as you serve the Lord.”

Here in our community of Christians you can find people who have gifts for teaching, for hospitality, for music, for healing, for administration, for preaching, for giving wise counsel... just to name a few. Those gifts are used in service and activities for the common good. The service is exhibited by members of the Lay Eucharistic Ministry, the Acolytes, the Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Ushers, the Home Eucharist Ministry, the order of St. Luke or Greeters. And the activities are things like helping at Hesed House, the Soup Kitchen, the Free Spaghetti Dinner or at a Habitat for Humanity house or on Mission Trips. We experience the “manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” in many ways. (And forgive me if I've missed your ministry...it's not intentional.)

But it seems to me that even in the midst of all this it can be confusing when you are trying to figure out what your gift is. And you have one. Each of us does. We're all called to use that gift in service... or ministry, if you will. Not just deacons, priests and bishops...but all of us.

In our Book of Common Prayer we have a section called The Catechism. It's our outline of faith, a brief summary of the Church's teachings. It clearly addresses the Ministry of the Laity (that means all of us without a collar) on pg. 855. And I quote,

“The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.”

I'd say that's pretty comprehensive. We're not called to just worship. Or just be a part of Christ's church when we're in the building on Sunday mornings. We're to be using those gifts we've been given in a way that serves Christ in the world. Every day. How you do that will be different than how I might do it. That's where the variety comes in. We're unique, just like God made us and how we live out our lives using the gifts we've been given is going to be different for each of us.

A priest friend of mine once told me “your call is where your joy and your gifts intersect while serving the Lord.” Where is that intersection for you? It's not unusual for someone to say “working at the Soup Kitchen was hard, but it was a lot of fun”. Or for a high school mission trip participant to say, “I don't think I've ever worked so hard and felt so good”. Those are clues that will help you narrow down your gifts.

Not surprisingly, I've found my call is in working with children and their families. Even when I was a child I felt drawn to working with children... I helped in the nursery in my church as a pre-teen; I was a Sunday school teacher when I was in high school; I held “Mommies' mornings out” during my summer vacations as an adolescent. As I got older, my calling to care for children grew into creating a home childcare, then to teaching and then the administration of a Preschool. Now it's working with children of all ages as the Director of Youth & Children's Formation. Looking back over the years, I can see the Holy Spirit at work in my life, strengthening and honing those gifts for service with children and their families. 'Creating a hunger in me for extensive Bible Study, giving me opportunities to practice my talents and use my gifts. And this ministry feeds my soul. My faith grows in the process of spending time with young people. Although I couldn't name it when I first began, I think my greatest joy comes from seeing Christ in all those young faces as I teach them in word and action that they are precious children of God. I continue to be drawn to ministry with children and youth. “Call” can do that. It can inspire us to “be”. Not just to “do”. I still strive to let the Holy Spirit use me “for the common good”, as the scripture says. And sometimes it takes me to surprising places.

Last January Bishop Lee invited me to join the Commission on Ministry of our Diocese because I was someone who worked with Youth & Children. It was an honor to be asked. I wasn't sure what I could contribute, but it sounded really interesting to be on a commission that would have a direct impact on our Diocese. Our job at the CoM has three parts:

1. to advise and assist the Bishop in implementing the Title III canons dealing with all ministry (that means making sure we follow the Church Laws as we work with different ministries)

2. to assist the Bishop in dissemination of present and future opportunities and needs for the ministries of all the baptized (that means finding and providing ways you can be a part of the life and ministry of this Diocese and in the community)

3. to advise and assist the Bishop in the design and oversight of the ongoing process for recruitment, discernment, and formation for ministry, and assessment of readiness therefor (that means helping the Bishop with all steps leading to the ordination of clergy – both deacons and priests)

Those are tasks we all – the Bishop, the clergy and laypeople- take very seriously on our Commission.

I didn't know much about the workings of the Commission and so I did some homework. I started out by asking questions of the current Commission members and reading all the background info they provided me. And there was a lot! I've read through the Canons and it's like most law... somewhat dry, with lots of “legalese”. But the most helpful thing I've read is the book they give to people who are on the ground floor of the discernment process for ordination. It's called “Listening Hearts, Discerning Call in Community.” It's a book about finding out what God has in mind for you. And it helps by putting the person who is experiencing something that might be a call to ministry by placing them in a prayerful community who help them figure it all out.

The process in our diocese has been that when a person feels a call to ministry they traditionally approach their rector to talk about it. After having met, the clergyperson may feel it is appropriate to convene a “discernment committee”. That's a group of people, some from their church and some from other churches. The purpose of this committee is to help the person sift through their life experiences, and thoughts. The committee asks the hard questions and the person is allowed to explore whether it is the voice of God calling or another voice such as a family member, friend, or a cultural expectation, or even the person's own ego.

Reading “Listening Hearts” gave me a deep appreciation for the discernment process. And while we have generally used it for discernment for ordination, it really speaks about discernment for all of us. It described perfectly the feelings of a friend of mine who told me she was experiencing a “restlessness” in her life. There's a path for her to follow but she hasn't quite found it yet. And it put into words my feelings when Joe and I were transferred up here from Florida. That uneasiness and at the same time, eagerness. “Call” is often felt as a “hunger” or a “longing” or “feeling at a crossroads”. Now I know the word “call” is a little scary sometimes. But it's just about going in the right direction, or finding the path we should follow as we listen to God's whispering. One of the things I loved about Listening Hearts was that although discernment can feel like a somewhat ethereal concept, the book gives some concrete suggestions as to how to find your way by “reading the story of your own life”.

And now for a short commercial break...

Fr. Bill and I spoke about “Listening Hearts” - how it makes the whole process of discernment clear and what a gift it is for anyone seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in finding their ownlay ministries. We decided that it would be a wonderful learning experience and have scheduled a “Listening Hearts” discussion group during Lent for any adults who are interested in reading this short but fascinating book. You'll find the sign up sheet in Ludtke Hall.

And we're back...

This morning I've tried to tell you how important it is to use the gifts you've been given … but just in case I haven't been clear, I'm going to borrow someone else's wisdom. I found some new lyrics to an old tune that we'll be singing together in a little while. I'd like to read them to you now.

There are many ways of sharing, But God's Spirit gives each one.
There are different ways of caring; It's one Lord whose work is done.
God, whose gifts are overflowing, May we hear you when you call;
Keep us serving, keep us growing, For the common good of all.

We've been baptized in the waters! We've been given work to do.
When you call your sons and daughters, You give gifts for serving you.
God, we join in celebration Of the talents you impart.
Bless each baptized one's vocation; Give each one a servant's heart.

All are blest by gifts you give us; Some are set apart to lead.
Give us Jesus' love within us As we care for those in need.
Give us faith to make decisions; Give us joy to share your Word.
Give us unity and vision As we serve your church and world.

I encourage you to discover your gifts if you haven't already done so. There are so many ways you can serve and act for the common good in our church and in the world. And you are the only one whom God calls to your particular ministry in that specific way...without your ministry we all miss out on the joy of your gifts!

Amen.