May: From the Vicarage
May has arrived! It’s a month I’ve been thinking about for quite some time, as many of you will know – I’m getting married on the 9th of this Month!
After so many months of preparation – the day is here! And it makes me think about this period of time between Easter and Pentecost. The Disciples were suddenly thrust into the spotlight, without Jesus being present on Earth to lead their new movement (a movement we now call Christianity!) they were suddenly ‘in charge.’
I wonder if the disciples felt unprepared for this new role in their lives? In fact, God had been preparing them for this moment for several years, as they followed Jesus, observing and helping him in his ministry. But learning and doing are two very different things!
God calls all of his people into discipleship, and each of us have a special role to play in the life of the Church, and in the life of West Moors. I wonder what God is calling and preparing you to do?
Jesus teaches us to become disciples in several ways; through Scripture, through prayer and through serving others. When we diligently do all of these things – it’s only a matter of time before we feel God calling us to something specific!
It says in Acts chapter 6 that the apostles say amongst themselves “Brothers and sisters, choose seven from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
Some say that this is the beginning of the holy order of Deacons – but, more generally, I think it shows that even from the earliest days of the church, people were realising that they had different gifts and passions and God was calling them to serve Him in many different ways.
The nominees of 2025’s Citizen of the Year award in West Moors included leaders of the Scouts, Townswomen’s Guild, Horticultural Society, Castleman Community Larder, Church members, Lunch clubs and Christmas gift projects. There were so many different ways of serving one’s community represented – and so many joyful volunteers standing to receive their certificates!
This month, why not pray that God reveals his calling to you? At St Mary’s we’re always looking for new people to join the Servers’ Team, the Lay Pastoral Assistant Team or the Choir. Has God placed one of these roles upon your heart? If so, come and have a relaxed conversation with me or any member of the clergy at St Mary’s!
The end of April saw St Mary’s elect new PCC members, Church Wardens and Assistant Church Wardens – a group of people who have graciously accepted God’s call to serve him in our church. We’re all very excited to see the new opportunities that arise to build our church community in faith, hope and love
As we move forward in May, may we each prayerfully consider where God is leading us to serve, and may St. Mary's be a place where those callings are nurtured and celebrated. In the spirit of the disciples' willingness to step into new roles, we look forward together to the opportunities before us at St. Mary's and in West Moors, trusting that God will equip us for the tasks ahead.
With Blessings, Rev. Lizzie