My calling is to serve, by Andrea de la Torre

My calling is to serve

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

God has giving all of his children the gift to serve. Some may not know how to flourish this amazing gift. While some maintain the gift all to them selves and not allowing to illuminate the lives of others by sharing the love of God. While the children that do share the gift; are able to hear the calling louder every time. I can feel the calling to serve; running all through my blood. I have been blessed with a gift that keeps on giving. From my perspective, I don’t know if there is anything better then seeing someone elated.

 

Serving makes me joyful, alive and fortunate; as if it was an addiction that I have towards serving God. I’ve been blessed with this calling from a young age; with the privilege of being introduced to acolyte. Along the way it has guided me more towards God and strengthens my faith. As a former director of acolytes I was able to guide other children and youth. As a young adult in my former community of St. Francis I had been giving the opportunity to represent the Hispanic and youth ministry as a delegate in the annual vestry convention in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida in October 2007. It had inspired me even more to guide and lead the less fortunate; minorities and youth to be heard and attended. Since we are all children of God; and all should be treated equally. In my future vocational goals I have planned, first if God allows me to become an ordained Reverent in the Anglican Church; my second home. One day, traveling around the world to third world countries to evangelize and help other children of God, be spiritually filled with faith, hope, and love.

 

God is good, why not let the world know how great God is. By sharing the love that God has giving us and allowing this magnificent gift blossom. Hoping that one day this world would become a better place, as God has it planned for us. Not allowing man to destroy the gifts that God has giving all his children. Where we will not restrain but express the love we have for each other. Tolerance, to allow everyone to be different; since we are all unique in the eye’s of God.

Andrea de la Torre is a  Member of the Student Leadership Team and a member of the Young Adult Festival 2009 Design Team

Ministry in Everyday Life

by Antoinette (Toni) Daniels, Director of Partnership Program Center at the Episcopal Church Center.

On Sundays when we participate in a worship service it’s easy to remember we are Christians and be involved in our ministries.   There are crosses, altars and vestments which keep us centered on who we are (Christians) and whose we are (God’s).  But when we are away from these comfortable reminders it’s easy to forget.   And by the time Mondays roll around it’s possible that our attention is no longer focused on being Christ-like and our ministry.

Baptism: Welcome to the Roundabout

by the Rev. Dr. Mellford (Bud) Holland. This article appeared in “A Collection of Resources for Baptism and Baptismal Living” edited and published by J. Fletcher Lowe, Leader Resources (www.leaderresources.org).

I remember driving in England and encountering my first roundabout.  It is a juncture where several roads intersect offering several new possible roadways to travel.  At first these roundabouts seemed very confusing particularly since I needed to drive on the “wrong” side of the highway, but after a while I saw them as my friend.  These roundabouts offered options to me including returning in the direction from which I came.  This was especially helpful as I often had taken the wrong turn before reaching the roundabout.  The roundabout is thus an important juncture to gain one’s bearings.  It is also a place where we are reminded of the need to work for each other.Baptism is like a roundabout in several ways: a) it, too, is a place to get our bearings and to catch a vision of who we are and what our direction for travel in life might be ; b) it also involves other people whose travels intersect with ours, meeting us in that juncture where we recollect our past, contemplate our present, and are introduced to the possibilities of the future; and c) it is a place to which we are invited again and again regardless of the road that we may be traveling..

Vocation

by Noah H. Evans 

We are called to intimacy with God.  As Christians, we begin this path to intimacy with God through the rite of Baptism.  In Baptism, we begin to walk the path as disciples of Christ, and we seek to draw close to God in Christ through growing in love for God, our neighbors, and all creation.  To talk about vocation and call in the Christian context first requires an understanding of this primary vocation of all Christians to love and to grow in love.  Our vocations as Christians are our path that God has helped us to find which leads us to grow in love, and fulfill our primary vocation began at our Baptism.