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Scottish Episcopal Church

VOCATIONS SUNDAY

The College of Bishops confirmed that the fourth Sunday after Easter would be kept as ‘Vocations Sunday’ in the Scottish Episcopal Church. It is often referred to as ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’, because the gospel reading for the day is taken from John 10, which explores the image of Jesus as the good shepherd.

Vocations Sunday offers us the opportunity to consider what ‘calling’ means in the Church, and how we may best use our gifts in God’s service.

This document aims to provide resources for congregations and their leaders to explore the theme of vocation at services. The sections are

(i) suggested prayers (ii) using the sermon time (iii) hymns (iv) links to other websites which offer further resources (v) PDO article from Inspires on ‘Vocation in the SEC today’ (2011)

If you would like further information or help for Vocations Sunday, please contact the Provincial Director of Ordinands.

(i) PRAYERS

Collects from various churches:

Collect for Epiphany 3

Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us into your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 From the Church of England: Let us pray for the ministry of the whole people of God.

God our Father, Lord of all the world, through your Son you have called us into the fellowship of your universal Church: hear our prayer for your faithful people that in their vocation and ministry each may be an instrument of your love, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Almighty God, you have entrusted to your Church a share in the ministry of your Son our great high priest: inspire by your Holy Spirit the hearts of many to offer themselves for the ministry of your Church, that strengthened by his power, they may work for the increase of your kingdom and set forward the eternal praise of your name; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

From the Anglican Church of Australia

Almighty God, look with compassion on the world you have redeemed by the death of your Son Jesus Christ. Move the hearts of many to offer themselves for the sacred ministry of your Church, so that by their lives and labours your light may shine in the darkness and the coming of your kingdom be advance, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

From the Roman Catholic Church:

Lord Jesus you said to your disciples:

“The harvest indeed is great but the labourers are few.”

We ask that we may know and follow the vocation to which you have called us.

We pray for those called to serve: those whom you have called,

those you are calling now, and those you will call in the future.

May they be open and responsive to the call of serving your people.

Amen.

God our Father, You will all men and women to be saved and come to the knowledge of your Truth. Send workers into your great harvest that the Gospel may be preached to every creature

and your people, gathered together by the word of life and strengthened by the power of the sacraments, may advance in the way of salvation and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Everliving God, strengthen and sustain those whom you have chosen that with patience and understanding they may love and care for your people, and grant that together they may follow Jesus Christ, offering to you their gifts and talents, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Blessing:

Almighty God, who for the salvation of the world gives to his people may gifts and ministries to the advancement of his glory, stir up in you the gifts of his grace, sustain each one of your in your own ministry, and the blessing of God Almighty …

A prayer for young vocations to ministry by Pope John Paul II

Lord, Jesus, Christ, Good Shepherd of our souls, you who know your sheep and know how to reach our hearts, open the minds and hearts of those young people who search for and await a word of truth for their lives; let them understand that only in the mystery of your incarnation do they find full light; arouse the courage of those who know where to seek the truth, but fear that what you ask will be too demanding. Stir in the hearts of those young people who would follow you, but who cannot overcome doubts and fears, and who in the end follow other voices and other paths which lead nowhere. You who are the Word of the Father, the Word which creates and saves, the Word which enlightens and sustains hearts, conquer with your Spirit the resistance and delays of indecisive hearts; arouse in those whom you call the courage of love's answer: "Here I am, send me!" Amen.

From the Methodist Church:

Jesus, Lord and Master, you transform the lives of men and women.

In your strength we can do all things and please our sovereign God.

Tame our natures Lord, mould us to your need, fashion us to your taste,

and conform us to your will.

Enable us and all who hear your call to ministry to give ourselves generously to your service.

Send us as workers into the Church and into the world. Amen

Lord, as you called your disciples, call us now.

Open our ears to listen to you calling;

Open our eyes to see you;

Open our hearts to your love.

Help us to hear you, to experience your presence with us and to love you.

And loving you, let us serve you, our servant King. Amen

There are more liturgical resources for Vocations Sunday on the Church of England’s website:



For example, they have provided this specimen of intercessions:

Lord God and Father of all, over all and in all and through all: we give thanks that we are called to your service; may all your people may be attentive and obedient to your calling.

Lord, hear your people and answer our prayers.

Lord of all, we give thanks that you call some to be apostles, sent out to do your work. We pray for all who respond to this calling to serve in your name: for those immersed in the world, seeking to bear witness to the gospel in word and action, for those whose service takes them to places where they face opposition and difficulty, may they be continually filled with your Spirit, and empowered to follow your calling.

Lord, hear your people and answer our prayers.

Lord of all, we give thanks that you call some to be prophets. We pray for all whom you have called to speak out and proclaim the values of your kingdom: for those who challenge injustice and apathy and untruth, for those who campaign for the well-being of your people and your world may they be continually filled with your vision, and have courage in their prophetic calling.

Lord, hear your people and answer our prayers.

Lord of all, we give thanks that you call some to be evangelists. We pray for all whom you have called to share the message of your love: for those who communicate the good news of Christ to others from a variety of backgrounds, for those whose enthusiasm and love conveys your truth, may they be filled with your love as they share the good news with others.

Lord, hear your people and answer our prayers.

Lord of all, we give thanks that you call some to be pastors. We pray for all whom you have called to care for others through prayer and through service: for those who take care of any who are young or old, who are sick or struggling, for those whose work supports medical, social and community services, may their lives be channels of your love and grace.

Lord, hear your people and answer our prayers.

Lord of all, we give thanks that you call some to be teachers. We pray for all whom you have called to encourage adults and children to learn and grow: for those who teach informally as parents, mentors and facilitators, for workers in schools, colleges and universities, and for those who teach in our churches may they speak your truth, and help others to grow in wisdom.

Lord, hear your people and answer our prayers.

Lord of all, you have called each of us to serve you in your world and in your Church; strengthen and equip us by your Spirit to recognise your call to us, and give us grace and courage to fulfil that calling, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

(ii) SERMON TIME

Who will speak?

First of all, you might want to consider who might speak during the sermon time. Clergy could speak about their own vocation and the callings of those in the congregation. Lay Readers could speak about their own distinctive role.

Invite an ordinand to preach , by contacting the Scottish Episcopal Institute. If you have no Lay Reader, there might be one nearby who would be willing to speak; licensed Lay Readers for each diocese are listed in the Red Book.

Interview someone about their life and explore how what they do is not just a job but a calling. You would need to have a conversation about this first and agree the questions that could be asked – e.g. ‘What do you do?’ ‘How did you come to feel inspired to do this?’ ‘How does it express being a disciple of Christ?’ ‘What challenges do you face?’

(This could be the beginning of a series of occasional interviews in which individuals describe ‘Where I will be and what I will be doing this time tomorrow (i.e. Monday)’. It will then provide material for intercession about this and other examples of working lives and how faith may be expressed in them.)

Ask someone to speak about their journey to the particular role they have in church at present, whatever it might be. How did they begin to get involved in the church? Who helped them on their journey? How does their calling fit into the callings within the Church, the body of Christ?

You could use the sermon time to have a panel of people – ordained, lay, paid, voluntary – who talk about their sense of calling. Young people might speak about how they are being drawn to a particular path in life and why; what are they going to do with their gifts?

The theme

The most effective way of encouraging people to think about vocation is through personal stories. The section above has suggested some ways in which these might be told, and the questions which might draw them out.

Vocations Sunday is a good opportunity to look broadly at the concept of ‘call’. We are called to become fully human; we are called to be baptised; we are called to live out our Christian identity in the way that is suggested by the particular gifts God has given us, and the inner sense of vocation that we can all have.

So ‘vocation’ is much wider than a call to some form of ministry in the Church. Exploring how everyone has a call opens up ways to connect our daily life and our faith. How is a person’s discipleship made evident in each aspect of their life? Does the Church recognise the value of different jobs and lifestyles? Do we offer prayers of intercession for a wide range of these?

Vocations Sunday is also a time when we can alert people to the needs of the Church. A Christian community calls for many different kinds of service, which St Paul characterised as parts of a body. Any congregation’s life depends on many different people. It is important to recognise and celebrate those forms of service, and to encourage people to consider the gifts they might offer – for work with children and young people, finance, fabric, the vestry, music, pastoral care and so on.

There is a pressing need for vocations to ordained ministry. The future leadership of the Church requires a new cohort of enthusiastic and energetic deacons and priests who will build up the experience and wisdom to lead God’s mission in a challenging world. Many of our clergy will retire in the next few years. It would be good for them to be succeeded by those who know and love the Scottish Episcopal Church and have offered themselves to serve it in this way.

Some people hear a call to the Religious Life as a member of an Anglican religious community. This will involve making vows, and might or might not include ordination. There are many well-known stories about this vocation, including that of the great medieval theologian, St Thomas Aquinas. When Thomas was a little boy, he went and knocked on the door of his local monastery, a monk came to the door, opened it and asked him, “What do you want my lad?” Thomas replied with three words, “I want God.” Anglican religious orders are listed at

Some of these broad themes are explored on the Church of England website at



There is copious exegesis, commentary and suggestions for worship based on the Lectionary texts by searching online.

Notes on Lectionary:

i) New Testament Readings:

Year A: Acts 2:42-27 describes the practical outworking of faith in (diaconal?) service and mission. The fruit of this is the growth of their Christian group.

1 Peter 2:19-25 reassures a hard-pressed Christian community that Christ has already experienced persecution. They are secure because they have ‘been returned’ (the verb is passive) to God in Christ, the ‘Shepherd’ and ‘Guardian’ (episkopon – over-seer / ?bishop) of their souls.

Year B: Acts 4:5-12 stresses that the ministry of healing is always through the power of Christ.

1 John 3:16-24 calls Christians to the self-sacrificial service of others in imitation of Christ’s own loving sacrifice.

Year C: Acts 9:36-43: At first sight, Tabitha appears to have been simply a beloved church worker who looked after widows in a practical way, and whose death prompted the local church to call for Peter. His prayed and she was raised to life. The story could be used to celebrate the value of pastoral work.

But note that Tabitha’s activity is called ‘good works’, not ‘ministry’ (a term used elsewhere for practical service). How do we label different kinds of work? What makes something ‘ministry’? Do we place different value on different ‘vocations’?

Tabitha is called a ‘disciple’, which is unusual for a woman in the New Testament. What made her a ‘disciple’? Was it an eagerness to learn how to follow Christ and express her faith? What is ‘discipleship’? How do we hear and respond to God’s call to become disciples?

How might Tabitha have come to her particular calling? Could the steps in her ‘vocational journey’ be reconstructed imaginatively? Who might have helped her to realise it and use her special gifts in God’s service?

ii) Gospel

John 10 God was understood as ‘Shepherd of Israel’ in the Hebrew Scriptures (e.g. Psalm 23, set for Easter 4C; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:11-16). False leaders of the people of Israel were condemned as bad shepherds (Isaiah 56:11; Ezekiel 34:1-10). God will send the Messiah as the true shepherd (Ezekiel 34:23).

John 10 explores Jesus as the Messiah who is this good shepherd of the New Israel. For John, Jesus is the sole shepherd (whereas in the non-gospel parts of the New Testament, pastors of congregations are also seen as shepherds eg. in Acts 20:28, charged to ‘keep watch over the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers’).

Year A: John 10:1-10 points to Jesus as the trusted and familiar shepherd whom the sheep follow because they know his voice. This shepherd will lead them to abundant life.

Year B: John 10:11-18 contrasts the hired hand who does not truly care for the sheep with the good shepherd who will risk and even sacrifice his life for the sheep, as Jesus did. The passage also speaks of sheep from elsewhere who must be brought into the fold.

Year C: John 10:22-30 Jesus proclaims himself the good shepherd who knows his flock and they know his voice. He gives them eternal life; they will never perish and no one can snatch them out of his hand.

Various themes for preaching emerge from John 10, including:

(i) Exploring the vocation to leadership in the church: the qualities called for in a leader; the model of Jesus’s own leadership and ministry; what makes a good shepherd (and a bad one)? Vocations to ordained leadership come from congregations and lay people – are we alert to the potential among us? How prepared are we to accept the sacrificial aspect of ministry?

Some useful reflections can be found in an excellent short book on the ordained life by Richard Giles, Here I am (Canterbury Press, 2006, ISBN 1-85311-713-7), ch. 1 (‘Servants and shepherds’).

(ii) Hearing God’s voice : our vocation is to become the disciples that God wants us to be, bringing to fulfilment the particular gifts God has given us. Jesus says: they listen … I know them … they follow me. How can we discern God’s purposes for us, and help others to do so?

(iii) Protecting and nurturing God’s people: Jesus declares that his flock can never perish or be snatched away. But we may sense the danger of a diminishing flock, especially amongst young people. How well are we (as a congregation) shepherding God’s people? Is everyone noticed and named and known (e.g, their gifts and potential)? Do we help people to follow their call and think what they might do with their lives – especially younger Christians? Do we take responsibility for nurturing one another in our faith and supporting each other on our vocational journeys?

iii) HYMNS

You can find the sources of these, and You Tube clips or MP3 downloads, by entering the first line of the hymn on a search engine.

These sites are also useful for tunes and lyrics, and for hymns relating more generally to the Lectionary readings for Easter 4C:







Hymn list:

All my hope on God is founded

All that I am, all that I do

Be thou my vision

Brother, sister, let me serve you

Christ is our cornerstone

Christ is the one who calls

Christ who called disciples to him

Christ who knows all his sheep

Christ’s is the world in which we move

Church of God, elect and glorious

Faithful shepherd, feed me

Father, hear the prayer we offer

Fill thou my life, O Lord my God

For I’m building a people of power

Forth in the peace of Christ we go

Forth in thy name, O Lord I go

Freely, freely, you have received

From heaven you came (The Servant King)

God has chosen me

God’s Spirit is in my heart (Go tell everyone)

Go forth and tell

Go to the world! Go into all the earth

I am the church

I, the Lord of sea and sky (Here I am, Lord)

Here I am, wholly available

Hope of our calling

I will sing the wondrous story

Jesus calls us, o’er the tumult

Jesus Christ is waiting

Just as I am, without one plea

Lead us, heavenly Father lead us

Leave your country and your people

Light of the minds that know him

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided

Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)

Lord of creation to you be all praise / Lord of all power

Lord, you give the great commission

Love is his word, love is his way

Make me a channel of your peace

Moses, I know you’re the man

O God, you search me and you know me (from Psalm 139)

O Jesus, I have promised

O thou, who camest from above

One is the body, and one is the head

One more step along the world I go

Seek ye first the kingdom of God

Send, O God, your Holy Spirit on your people gathered here

Take my life and let it be

Take, O take me as I am

Take this moment, sign and space

The king of love my shepherd is

This little light of mine

Thuma Mina / Send me, Lord

We have a gospel to proclaim

Will you come and follow me

Ye servants of God, your master proclaim

(iv) USEFUL LINKS

The Church of England site for Vocations Sunday.



The Church of Scotland site offers resources for discussion on vocations and the full inclusion of disabled people:





A resource from the Church Pastoral Aid Society for local church leaders to help foster younger vocations to ministry.





Details on the Anglican vocation to religious life can be found at:



After Sunday is a charity that seeks to link worship and daily life. Two sections are particularly useful for Vocations Sunday: ‘Exploring vocation’ (under ‘Resources’)



And: ‘Vocation in practice’

Textweek is no longer updated but still provides a large number of weblinks to resources related to the Lectionary texts for each Sunday: Bible commentary, sermons, discussions, full liturgies and prayers, art and media, children’s resources and music.

(v) Is there anybody there? Vocation in the SEC today (Article in Inspires Autumn 2011)

I sometimes get a phone call asking, “How do I train for ministry in the Scottish Episcopal Church?” I have to take the eager enquirer back a step or two and ask gently , “Have you actually explored a vocation to ministry in our Church yet?” The Church is rightly painstaking in the selection of candidates, because the difference to Christian life that an ordained minister makes – for good or ill – can be immense.

So often ‘a vocation’ is spoken of in hushed or even awed tones. But we ALL have a vocation – first of all to become fully human, and then to express our love of God and joy in Christ’s risen life in the way we are called to do. It may be that this involves serving as an ordained minister, or it may be a call to lay ministry, secular employment, voluntary work, family life, monastic life or whatever shape our discipleship takes.

Someone once described his vocation to ordained ministry as having experienced ‘the first pool where my feet have not touched the bottom’. It’s very hard to define exactly what being a deacon or a priest is, because each person incarnates their call in their own way. When clergy gather together – for instance, on Maundy Thursday when they renew their vows – you see a range of temperaments, styles (and stoles) and convictions; you know they are coming from very different settings and perhaps have very different concerns.

One thing these clergy all share is that they have sensed a particular call, and gone through a process of discernment where this call has been tested by the Church. Some people know they are called to ordination from an early age. Their vocation may get submerged from time to time by events, but it is as much a part of them as (for example) their sense of humour. Others have a shattering experience which changes them for ever, and their vocation comes out of it. A few are identified as possible clergy by other people – their friends or their priest – and gradually find that the ordained person emerges out of themselves, like a statue being revealed by a sculptor.

It’s important that a growing awareness of vocation is given time. If someone is truly called to serve God as a deacon or priest, they will not be able to get away from the thought. As the Psalmist wrote: ‘You hem in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me … Where can I go from your spirit, or where can I flee from your presence?’ You begin to recognise how God has been leading you to this point; you recognise the gifts and skills that you have been blessed with, and how these are to be offered. There is just that persistent sense that it could be right for you to be ordained.

Of course, it may be that people have the wrong idea of what it is all about. Ordained ministry is very different in 2011 from 1961, or even 1981, for our society has become secular at an astonishing rate. Church is no longer a default option for weddings or even funerals. Religious observance in most schools is minimal. Clergy are not seen as the authoritative source for ethical values. The end of ‘Christendom’ means that people will come to church because they want to, not because they feel they should. And because a generation exists which has almost no Christian background, they do not feel they belong to one denomination rather than another.

So the ordained minister is now a leader of mission, one who nurtures a small band of disciples who will take the gospel to the community, an entrepreneur who will look for openings made by the Spirit and use them to bear fruit for God. They will need to be flexible and a risk-taker; to be able to communicate in all the ways open to them; to have a good strategic vision and a way of working with people to achieve it. Clergy these days will find themselves moving outside their comfort zones and travelling light.

Yet what I was told during training by a wise lay person still holds true: “The most important thing that you bring to your ministry is the quality of your relationship with God.” Before everything else, a deacon or priest is a man or woman of God.

And such people are needed as never before. The Church is seeking quality leadership and passionate commitment. We are looking for a new generation of clergy to lead the people of God into the future. The Whole Church Mission and Ministry Policy, which was received by General Synod this year, highlighted the Church’s need to recruit inspired clergy leadership – especially from younger, Scottish Episcopalians. Is there anybody out there?

“Well”, you might say, “what exactly are you looking for?”

Personality is key. Candidates will vary a lot, but they will be the sort of person to whom others turn naturally for advice and help; who can encourage and enable others and work well with them. They will be able to take responsibility and be trustworthy.

Then there is Christian faith and practice. We expect candidates to have been committed to a congregation in the SEC for two years at least, and to have taken an active part in its life. They will be able to share their faith and make sense of their experiences of life through that faith.

Finally, there is spirituality. This is about the indefinable quality that makes you think about a person, “They are close to God”. It will be expressed in prayer, worship and Bible study, and also in living out their faith in daily life, but there is also that spark which attracts others to God. It is a deep passion which is almost beyond words.

When someone has spoken to their rector or chaplain about vocation to ordained ministry, they may be sent to the Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO). At this point, more explicit criteria come into focus, such as vocation, relationships, leadership, mission and evangelism and quality of mind. The discernment process is about Spirit-guided ‘holy conversations’, certainly, but it is also based on evidence about how a person matches the criteria.

There are slightly different criteria for those called to be deacons for life – heralds of the Kingdom who bring God’s love to the community and the needs of the world to the Church. They need to have special gifts of collaboration and communication that their engagement in mission calls for.

The discernment process is rigorous, and it can seem drawn-out for candidates eager to know whether the Church recognises their call. They must be recommended by a Provincial Advisory Panel to go to a Bishop’s Advisory Panel held in England, and then they will be recommended for training, conditionally recommended or not recommended. Throughout the process, the DDOs and Advisers are advising the bishops, who take the ultimate decisions about candidates.

It’s an exciting time to be involved in vocations work. We should all be involved: by praying for people to hear their call; by keeping our eyes open for those whom God may be calling; by keeping our ears open in case we ourselves are being called. In the coming year, there will be new materials and initiatives in the SEC to encourage vocations to ordained ministry. Meanwhile, here are some suggestions to look at:

➢

tools to help you discern your call, including online ‘Exploring your SHAPE’ (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experience)

➢ Church of England website

➢ Richard Giles, Here I am. Reflections on the ordained life (Canterbury Press, 2006, ISBN 1-85311-713-7)

Jesus told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ (Luke 10:2)

Alison Peden Provincial Director of Ordinands

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