The word "ministry" comes from the Latin word for "servant". In the Bible, there is no such word equivalent to "minister", but t here are a number of "offices" in the early church that were for "serving" or "ministering" and these were called "elders", "bishops" or "deacons/deaconesses". All three of these words seem interchangeable in Scripture, and refer to acts of service in the church.

ut all the people of God are called to serve. Therefore, everyone, in a sense is a "minister". All Christians are followers of Jesus ("disciples") and as such are called by God to serve in the world in some way.

The church sets aside some people with a specific set of gifts and special calling from God to be Ministers of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care or Ministers of Education, Service and Pastoral Care (We don't have one of these here). These are the two orders of ministry in the United Church of Canada. We also have Designated Lay Ministers in various other types of paid accountable ministry positions. Our other Ministry Personnel include Miri Lee (Minister of Music) and our office administrators (Anne Marie) who have the "Ministry of Administration". The point is that all our work is done for God, not simply to run the church.

The ministry of ordered and designated people is set out in Ephesians 4: 11-13.

"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."

So the task of our paid accountable and ordered Ministers is one of equipping you for your important work of Christian service in the world. They do this by preaching, teaching, inspiring, organizing, visioning, and programming, as well as through prayer, counseling and pastoral care.

We do not know what that will be, and you may not know either. But God is calling you to do something in the world, and the church is here to help you learn what that may be. Your journey will begin by attending worship weekly, listening to the Gospel proclaimed, enacted, and sung. You will receive spiritual nurture through this worship service as well as inspiration.

Your journey will also entail learning and growing. There are a number of opportunities for you to become part of small groups for nurture or study, programs to learn more about the faith, discipleship/leadership development courses, spiritual retreats and many other things. Choose wisely and prayerfully where God is leading you to grow spiritually.

Finally, we at Gilmore Park have created an inventory to help you discern your Spirit-given gifts for ministry. We also have a structure of discernment and support to help you when you come up with a ministry idea. You may feel called to take part in a ministry program, team or idea that is already in action.

May God bless you as begin your journey toward discerning your ministry.

Biblical References:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22: 37-39)

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28: 19)

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If one's gift is preaching, let her use it in proportion to her faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let her teach; if it is encouraging let him encourage; if it is helping others, let her do so generously, if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let her do so cheerfully." (Romans 12: 4-8...paraphrased)