Pathways
As I've stated in previous posts, I have known that I dream of becoming a pastor for the last 15 years. And no, I have not forgotten to tell the rest of that story. Read on for a section that is not part of the call to ministry story, but I have included for context for my non-Methodist friends. And continue to bear with me during this Lenten season to hear more of this journey, which will reach its culmination on Good Friday.
One of the highlights of my week is attending Open Circle at Centenary on Wednesday nights. We start with a meal, as all good church functions do - or should. Amelia Pond loves to watch the dishwashers. We are all waiting for the day that she is big enough to start working in the kitchen, and hoping that by then she doesn't lose interest in it. For now she's a good helper clearing plates and trying to put the plates, cups, and silverware in the right tubs of soapy water, hoping to catch a glimpse of the dishwashers on her tippy-toes. She is still a bit shy around the volunteers that help with the dishes, but she's fascinated by the loud noises of the dishwasher running and the spray nozzle that rinses the dishes before they are run through the machine. But her smile lights up the room when she's feeling brave enough to say hello to them - and she quickly runs away to find her friends thereafter.
After supper we have a quick worship service. It's shorter, more casual, and a smaller crowd than on Sundays. Usually Amelia Pond will attend with me and is more likely to sit through it with limited distractions. It's nice to have a centering point of worship during the week to check in with God.
Then after worship there are a number of activities, and usually you have to pick one or the other, as they are happening simultaneously. I have chosen adult forum over choir and bell choir, even though I miss music a lot. The adult forum study group has a great group attending, and the topics over the last year or so have been rich and informative. The group is very open minded and curious. We often have a schedule, but the questions that come up put us on very different tangents from week to week. Our pastor does a great job of bringing us back full circle in our discussions, and keeping us hungry for learning more.
At the end of one particular study group, someone had made a comment to me that I seem very wise and displayed some great knowledge of the Bible. Which I found funny because I personally would love to spend more time in Scripture, if I could only fit more hours into the day. They had asked if I had ever considered ministry for myself. I was still pretty new to the community, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to share my "secret" with them. I hadn't told my family and only a few friends and Husband even knew of my desire to be a pastor. I felt led to share, as this was a safe space and I could feel the presence of God among us. I expressed that yes, I do want to be a pastor. My struggle has been that in order to do so conventionally, I would need to go to Seminary, and that I hadn't finished any college education. College is expensive, and knowing I'd have to get both a bachelor and a masters degree made ministry feel very lofty and unreachable.
I know that God was working in that moment, because a path was set in front of me where it had been closed off before. My pastor informed me of the licensed local pastor option within the Methodist church. In the Methodist church, there are three types of clergy serving congregations:
Elders - ordained to a ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service. This is your basic Pastor gig.
Deacon - ordained to lead the church in relating Christians to their ministries in the world. Like a Pastor, but more related to specific social justice ministries.
Local Pastor - not ordained but are licensed to preach and conduct divine worship and perform the duties of a pastor.
So while I know that I would love to be afforded the opportunity to resume my college education, I still have a vehicle to start ministry in the meantime. I can see the path being made clear as I pursue this option of being a local pastor. Don't get me wrong - there are still a lot of unknowns. I'll get into more of those details in future posts. But to see the road opening up in a way that I have been waiting for 15 years to see is a huge blessing. I'm still discerning the way forward, and leaving it up to God for God's timing to be right.
Positivity for the Day
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2
Waiting is hard. So hard. Seeing dreams slipping between your fingers like grains of sand makes it hard to keep the dream alive. The race is still there to be run, and there is joy for the journey at the finish line. Let's keep running towards our dreams. The journey may take longer than you expect, but the joy comes in the journey as well as at the end of it. May you find joy today amidst the hard.
Peace,
Positively Pastoral Jessica
One of the highlights of my week is attending Open Circle at Centenary on Wednesday nights. We start with a meal, as all good church functions do - or should. Amelia Pond loves to watch the dishwashers. We are all waiting for the day that she is big enough to start working in the kitchen, and hoping that by then she doesn't lose interest in it. For now she's a good helper clearing plates and trying to put the plates, cups, and silverware in the right tubs of soapy water, hoping to catch a glimpse of the dishwashers on her tippy-toes. She is still a bit shy around the volunteers that help with the dishes, but she's fascinated by the loud noises of the dishwasher running and the spray nozzle that rinses the dishes before they are run through the machine. But her smile lights up the room when she's feeling brave enough to say hello to them - and she quickly runs away to find her friends thereafter.
After supper we have a quick worship service. It's shorter, more casual, and a smaller crowd than on Sundays. Usually Amelia Pond will attend with me and is more likely to sit through it with limited distractions. It's nice to have a centering point of worship during the week to check in with God.
Then after worship there are a number of activities, and usually you have to pick one or the other, as they are happening simultaneously. I have chosen adult forum over choir and bell choir, even though I miss music a lot. The adult forum study group has a great group attending, and the topics over the last year or so have been rich and informative. The group is very open minded and curious. We often have a schedule, but the questions that come up put us on very different tangents from week to week. Our pastor does a great job of bringing us back full circle in our discussions, and keeping us hungry for learning more.
At the end of one particular study group, someone had made a comment to me that I seem very wise and displayed some great knowledge of the Bible. Which I found funny because I personally would love to spend more time in Scripture, if I could only fit more hours into the day. They had asked if I had ever considered ministry for myself. I was still pretty new to the community, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to share my "secret" with them. I hadn't told my family and only a few friends and Husband even knew of my desire to be a pastor. I felt led to share, as this was a safe space and I could feel the presence of God among us. I expressed that yes, I do want to be a pastor. My struggle has been that in order to do so conventionally, I would need to go to Seminary, and that I hadn't finished any college education. College is expensive, and knowing I'd have to get both a bachelor and a masters degree made ministry feel very lofty and unreachable.
I know that God was working in that moment, because a path was set in front of me where it had been closed off before. My pastor informed me of the licensed local pastor option within the Methodist church. In the Methodist church, there are three types of clergy serving congregations:
Elders - ordained to a ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service. This is your basic Pastor gig.
Deacon - ordained to lead the church in relating Christians to their ministries in the world. Like a Pastor, but more related to specific social justice ministries.
Local Pastor - not ordained but are licensed to preach and conduct divine worship and perform the duties of a pastor.
So while I know that I would love to be afforded the opportunity to resume my college education, I still have a vehicle to start ministry in the meantime. I can see the path being made clear as I pursue this option of being a local pastor. Don't get me wrong - there are still a lot of unknowns. I'll get into more of those details in future posts. But to see the road opening up in a way that I have been waiting for 15 years to see is a huge blessing. I'm still discerning the way forward, and leaving it up to God for God's timing to be right.
Positivity for the Day
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2
Waiting is hard. So hard. Seeing dreams slipping between your fingers like grains of sand makes it hard to keep the dream alive. The race is still there to be run, and there is joy for the journey at the finish line. Let's keep running towards our dreams. The journey may take longer than you expect, but the joy comes in the journey as well as at the end of it. May you find joy today amidst the hard.
Peace,
Positively Pastoral Jessica
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