The Revd Anna Burr, who leads the team of Diocesan Vocations Advisers, reflects on Vocations Sunday which takes place on 11th May 2025.
‘We all wander far from God and lose our way: Christ comes to find us and welcomes us home. In baptism we respond to his call.’
These words, from the service of Baptism, are a reminder that everyone who has been baptised is also called by God to follow Jesus. Baptism can be the beginning of a journey of discovery of all that God has in store for our lives. I wonder where that journey has taken you. How have you responded to his call?
Discovering what God’s particular call to each of us might be isn’t always straightforward. We might have very fixed ideas of what a ‘calling’ looks like: maybe to be a doctor, a teacher and priest or even a missionary or, maybe more scarily, a monk or nun. God’s call is never the same, but we know that he calls us each by name and longs to equip and to bless us as we flourish in his service.
Across the Church of England, we believe all are called to serve God according to their given gifts, talents and context. Every Christian has a vocation, and it is the task of all those serving in ministry to help identify and nurture the gifts and callings of every member of the Church.
The diocesan team of Vocations Advisers is on hand to help. We are a small team who love to work with people who sense God is calling them to something new. Together with those who notice God is doing something new through people in their church, we listen, pray and explore the many opportunities for ministry.
Why not start your journey of exploration by having a chat with someone you trust – your parish priest would be a good start! After all – Jesus calls all who have been baptised to follow him as his disciples. Where might he want you to follow him?
