One of the absolute best joys of being pastor is walking with others as they discern and clarify what they feel God is calling them to do. From choosing to be a stay-at-home parent to launching a new career in accounting to making a choice to become a pastor, each holds a special joy to me when I watch someone grow into who God has created them to be. When someone takes the step of faith, prayer, and discernment to speak to one of us pastors about dreams and hopes of their future, a true gift is given and received.
As Paul says in the letter to the church in Ephesus, “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13, NRSV) Here Paul is making a statement that all of us have giftedness, and when used together they will help us bring glory to God and help others find the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ in their life. FCUMC is a place where people discover how they can serve God and fulfill a longing in their heart to do what God has asked them to do and be.
This Advent season we hope that you will be listening to how others are affirming giftedness in you. Listen closely to what others are saying. Perhaps you may receive a gift from someone you didn’t expect, and perhaps when you lean into this gift doors may open to a New Year’s resolution that is less concerned about the size of your waist and more concerned with the size of your heart. If you want to talk with one of us pastors as you begin to discern this calling, please don’t hesitate to contact us through the church office. The season of Christmas only comes once a year but anytime someone welcomes the new life of Christ into their life our souls burst forth with “Joy to the World!”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Don
