I recently celebrated my one-year anniversary as a formal staff member at Resurrection. It is a gift to serve my own parish - where my heart and spirit are so at home.
I vividly remember my employment being announced in the bulletin with the following description: the role of the Pastoral Associate is comprehensive, relating to all aspects of parish life. While this is a bit daunting, the beauty is that it is ultimately about faith, pastoral care, and community - which we all do together.
Later this year we will hear the Parable of the Talents at Sunday Mass as we make our way through Matthew’s gospel. In the past, I remember somewhat identifying with the servant who buries their talent in the ground to keep it safe, unharmed, and returned risk-free to its owner. A diocesan-sponsored Tending the Talents program that I attended several years ago asked participants to think more about the consequences and aridity of simply burying the gifts we are given - that we are called to nurture our gifts and not simply play things safe.
I have the gift of being able to serve this parish formally, but the fruits of the parish are on us all. We are all in this together - God’s love is for us all to share. And especially as demands continue to increase on a smaller number of clergy, we, the laity, must take up our part and bring our gifts to benefit the parish - and therefore, each other. This includes acknowledging that we are all at different stages of our journey, and for many, the gift of prayer is what we can offer - whether at church or at home. There is a time for everything, and everything is appropriate in its time.
The needs of the parish and the ways we can participate are also comprehensive. In the next few months, we will be hearing about financial issues (in this bulletin!), Pastoral Planning, the Eucharistic Revival, a Parish Mission, and multiple fundraising events. All are opportunities to grow together as a parish family and be the hands and heart of Jesus in all of our gifts.
Paying attention to the current news may cause fear. Instead, pay attention to our parish, to one another, and respond to the ways you can be part of our faith community. Tend your talents and be a cause of hope. Amen.