Diocese of York / Vocations / Ember Days

Nick Bird, Diocesan Adviser for vocations, writes:

Ember days

At four periods of the year, the traditional liturgical calendar of the Church marks ember days. These days are attached to the natural seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter and were days of fasting and abstinence, but also of prayer and preparation. Over time, Ember Saturdays became the traditional days for ordinations. Tradition prescribed that ordinations be preceded by fasting and prayer (see Acts 13:3), and so it was quite reasonable to place ordinations at the end of this fast period. This allows the entire community to join the candidates in fasting and in praying for God’s blessing upon their vocation and ministry.

Prayer for the whole church

However, vocation and ministry are not simply about those who are ordained or in Licensed or Authorised ministry, and so these four periods in the year can become a time of prayer and response by the whole church, calling forth all the faithful to respond to God’s invitation to join in God’s mission to the whole world through the whole of life.

The call of vocation and ministry

The Michaelmas Embertide culminates in the Sunday 24th September gospel reading of Matthew 20.1-16 and the parable of the workers in the vineyard. May I encourage you to pray and preach and talk around the theme of vocation, call, service and mission? You will note that the owner of the vineyard did not wait for workers to turn up at his gate. Rather, he actively sought them and sent them to work. Why do we so often wait for people to hear a direct call from God instead of being partners in the calling? We don’t expect evangelism to work in that way, so why can we be so passive around the call of vocation and ministry?

September starts

This September marks the beginning of our first Deepening Discipleship Project, which is ‘a new accompanied learning community to support the growth and development of the ministry of God’s people in local churches across our Diocese...the first step for those who are interested in developing their ministry and would like to explore their calling to either Licensed Lay Ministry or Authorised Lay Ministry’. September is also when we send our ordinands into formation and training, and thus marks another beginning in ministry.

Pray for all the faithful baptised, that they may find ways to fulfil their baptismal promises, and for those making new beginnings in living out their vocation.
Call those who are yet to enter the vineyard of ministry and service, those who may be waiting to be asked.
Seek the treasure that lies hidden within, identifying gifts, passions and skills, finding ways to release the faithful into the service of the kingdom.

For further support around vocations to ministry you are welcome to contact the Revd Canon Nick Bird (nick.bird@yorkdiocese.org) or the Revd Anna Burr (Coordinator of the Network of Vocation Advisers – vocations@yorkdiocese.org).

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Father, we are your people, the work of your hands.
So precious are we in your sight that you sent your Son, Jesus. Jesus calls us to heal the broken-hearted, to dry the tears of those who mourn, to give hope to those who despair, and to rejoice in your steadfast love.
We, the baptised, realise our vocation to serve. Help us to know how. Call us forth to be the people you have created us to be, proclaiming your healing gospel in word and deed in all that we say and do.
Call from among us Readers, deacons and priests, and those who would serve as active lay ministers. With our hearts you continue to love your people. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

The Revd Canon Nick Bird
Diocesan Adviser for Vocations

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