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

Mentor…where that word comes from? Why is it important?

The Greek storyteller Homer tells of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca.  In this tale, Odysseus asked his friend Mentor to watch over his son Telemachus while he fought in the Trojan War.    Mentor was a faithful friend of Odysseus who stayed in Ithaca and served as Telemachus’ tutor.  The story says that Mentor was wise, sober, and loyal.  On the other hand, Telemachus was just entering manhood.

 

 

This classic tale shows that mentoring is one of the oldest forms of influence.  Mentoring as a tool can be a powerful and popular way for people to achieve  personal, professional skills and to explore and articulate their goals and vision.

 

A mentor is a guide, a listener, someone who cares, someone who has been there, someone to help you to set your goal or strategize to accomplish them,  A mentor is not a savior, is not a therapist, is not a foster parent.

 

There are many perspectives on the definition of mentoring, especially since the concept of coaching has become so popular in the corporate world and even within the structure of some communities of faith.   Traditionally, mentoring refers to a person who conducts activities (training, discussions etc) for another person in order to help that person to do a job more effectively or to progress in a career or area of expertise.    A mentor is someone who usually “had been there, done that” . 

 

Today there is ongoing discussion at different levels about the definitions of mentors and the difference between coaching and mentoring.  Despite of all discussions that take place in the corporate or ecclesiastical world, reality is that we were created to live in community, to learn from one another, to care and take care of one another.  Mentors of today were mentee of yesterday, mentee of today will be mentors of tomorrow. 

 

In my experience, the role of a mentor is priceless.   In my personal life and discernment process,  it has been very helpful to me to connect with other ‘s people wisdom .   I am so blessed to have friends and clergy who cares and listen. Their mentonrship and support has made a difference in my life and ministry and it has encouraged me to make a difference in other people ‘s life.   

 

In a church context, mentors are not limited to those who guide and counsel people to help them discern wether or not they are called to ordained ministry, but also in many other areas of their lives , as people of faith who belongs to a larger family.   

 

Mentors can help you to explore and discern how your gifts and talents fits a particular ministry , can help you to seek a deeper relationship with God, and can also help you to deal with your concerns, doubts and fears.  Mentors are not meant to tell you what to do, but to be there for you, listening, caring and asking the right questions, for which you are encouraged to seek answers.  Other’s people wisdom and experience help us to see things from a different perspective.

It is a healthy practice to select someone or various individuals who we can trust and share our thoughts, doubts, concerns, joy, goals and expectations.   One is never too old for choosing a mentor. 

 

If you don’t have a mentor to walk with you in your spiritual journey, I strongly encourage you to do so.    The most important consideration when choosing a mentor is to look for someone you can respect, a person who live in harmony with their words and actions, someone who you could disscuss sensitive issues and trust that they will handle it with confidentiality, someone who knows how to listen and is not afraid to challenge you and who will inspire you to reach your full potential.

 

I am sure you have people around who fits the description above.  Look out for them! .  If you are willing to start a mentoring relationship using  the tools that modern theconology has to offer ( the web) I encourage you to look online and connect with PLSE Mentors.  PLSE Mentors are young adults and adults leaders of the Church who have experience working with young people, or who have experienced life and leadership in a variety of aspects. They are willing and open to listen, share their experiences, help you to explore your calling and purpose in life and most of all they care!  

 

PLSE Mentors can be reach via email only by clicking their name.  You may click www.episcopalchurch.org/plse 

 

And remember, sometimes you can not figure it our on your own!

 

 

Where Do I Find My Calling? By Alejandra Trillos

Discerment…life is about choices.

Life is about choices, discerning, listening and action

 

Choices is not a new thing, since the beginning of creation, human beings have faced the reality of making choices.  In the Old Testament we read lots of stories that show the reality we face when we find ourselves in front of more than one option:    Lot chose to go East and Abraham West toward Canaan. We all know the rest of the story… ,     Noah chose to listen God and built the Arc and by choosing that he saved his family and lots of creatures,  Peter, after denying Jesus, he chose not to stay depressed but to repent and became one of the most powerful disciples and defender of the Christian faith in the first century,

 

Nowadays our choices are simpler than those of the first Christians.  From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed we are making decisions, choosing among 2 or multiple things. Simple choices such as “how shall I do my hair today? What outfit should I wear for a special occasion? As simple as they sound, they are somewhat important to us. Isn’t that right?

 

There are other decision making process a bit more complicated, for instance, when it comes to choosing a mate, a career, a job change, a move, a home, a school, a friend, a vacation, how to spend or save money, or any other choice, big or little, whenever there are two or more different paths opening up before us and we have to choose, how do we know which one is best?

 

What happens “in between” is what we call Discernment.  Discernment is more than just a skill. Discernment is a gift from God before it is anything else. Yet there are clearly skills you put to use in using your gift, and you can become better at it through training and experience.

 

Discernment happens in a personal level as we examine ourselves and consider our options but it also happens in community.

                                                                                                      

Discerning in community is one of the richest thing we can experience as we are able to bring to the table different perspectives and learn from one another.   

 

When it comes particulary to discern about a calling to an specific ministry or service, it is important to consider what our gifts and talents are as well as to be open to the “outsider” voice to listen and allow opportunities for other people’s insight, the rector of your congregation, a friend, a member of your local church, someone you trust and is open to listen and walk with you in the process.  

 

The Episcopal Church as a community of faith offers lost of opportunities to service  through ministries at the local level , diocesan networks and wider level.  There are many ways in wich, as episcopalians we can make a difference in the lives of others and in the world  (explore internship opportunities at episcopachurch/youngadults.org)

 

Even the smallest thing is significant when do it with love.

How do I Choose a Seminary?

by Sarah Irwin  

Okay. You’ve prayed and discerned and thought about your calling, and now it’s time to think about seminary.  How does anyone make a decision like that?  Is it like going to college?  Or choosing a place to live?  A lot of factors will go into your decision about which seminary you choose to attend. This is a time when you want to make as many contacts as possible with as many different people as you can.  Where did your parish priest or college chaplain go to seminary?  Where did your bishop go?  Does he or she want you to attend a particular school?  At first, there seems to be a bewildering number of choices to make.  The range of seminaries in the Episcopal Church is very, very broad. With a few categories of thought in mind, though, you can start to think concretely about where you are called to be. 

God Equips the Called

by Nathan Humphrey

A few years ago I participated in a weekend retreat on “discerning your spiritual gifts.” I was excited. We were going to harness the powers of modern diagnostic tools such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, as well as the traditional methods of Bible study and prayer, to probe deep into our hearts and psyches and to find where our true gifts lie. And the procedure worked–by the end of the weekend, I knew I have gifts for teaching, writing, and leading worship. There was only one problem: I knew all of this before the retreat! It was nice to have my gifts affirmed in this way, but when a group of us got together at the end of the weekend to discuss how to use the gifts we had discerned, it was all speculation. We had discerned our talents and gifts, but we still hadn’t a clue what, if anything, we ought to do with them. I left the retreat confused and disappointed, praying: “God, I thank you for all your gifts, both large and small, but what can I do with my life that will be most pleasing to you?” I didn’t even know if I should base my life on my already-known talents.