Catherine's profileThomcat's tidbitsPhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
|
September 01 Church CallingsI belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. One unique thing about my church is that there is no paid ministry and most of the members hold "callings" such as Sunday School teacher or Organist etc... We don't ask to do a particular job. Usually the Bishop (who is the leader of the individual congregations) will know what positions need to be filled and then he or one of his counselors will ask individuals if they will do it. I have served in many callings over the years including Primary teacher, Relief Society Counselor and Young Womens president. Usually I am blessed from my service in a variety of ways and I probably benefit more than I give out.
This summer I didn't have a calling for much of the time. I was gone from home a lot and it just worked out that way. A couple of weeks ago I got a new calling. This one was Enrichment leader. Basically that means I would head up a committee and we'd plan weekly activities and quarterly events with all the ladies in our congregation. I was excited about this calling. I would get to know a lot of the ladies I haven't really known very well and plan fun activities. Our first event is coming up in just a couple of weeks. We're having an overnight womens retreat at a lake house. I contacted each of the ladies on the committee and we met to discuss the preparations.
There's one thing I've learned after 20 years of service in the church. The moment you get "comfortable" in your calling, you're probably going to get released and get a new job that's more of a challenge. Sure enough! After only 2 weeks of being called to that position, I will be released.
My new assignment is not actually a calling, it is an assignment. I was asked to teach seminary to the sophomore class. Each High school member of the church is encouraged to attend seminary every school day like a regular high school class. In some places they have it during the regular school day but up here they have to get up and start class at 6a.m. That means the teachers arrive at 5:30 to set up the classroom and get ready. I've got to admit that I am very nervous about doing this and feel very underqualified. There are nearly 30 students in the class and at least half of them I don't know very well at all. Luckily I will be team teaching with my good friend Ruth. This is new to her too so we'll have to learn together.
The situation is complicated here because our church burned down over the summer. We've been meeting in the high school for our Sunday meetings but that won't do for anything else, including seminary. When the fire happened in our building, one of the local Catholic leaders was very sympathetic and offered to help in any way he could. He has been so helpful and accomodating, our leaders have been able to rent his church/school for early morning seminary for a very nominal fee. The only problem is we can't leave ANYTHING there. Try to imagine 4 classrooms with approximately 30 kids in each one, needing their binders, scriptures, supplies along with the rooms needing to have tables and chairs set up AND taken down each and every day. The supplies and books have to be kept in the cars of the teachers and some men show up every day to carry it all in and set up the rooms. The same men stick around for that hour until class is over and then they put everything away. I was so impressed as I arrived this morning for my first day. The dedication and service rendered each and every day is amazing. I admire the men who did all the heavy work, the teachers who study 2+ hours a day to teach in the wee hours of the morning to sleepy teenagers, to the sleepy teenagers who show up every morning to learn about the Old Testament before they go to school and to Father Tom from the Catholic church who has been very "Christian" to us
Being the newest teacher and feeling least qualified to be doing this, I hope to learn quickly from those around me. I know I'll be blessed once again as I'm willing to serve. I also know that about the time I start feelin content and comfortable with this job, I'll be released and asked to do something else.
|
|
|
