The Center for Leadership Excellence, in partnership with COSROW, is pleased to lift up the voices of women in ministry encouraging fellow women in ministry. Please enjoy this month’s Encouragement from the Rev. Beth H. Hood, Assistant to the Bishop for Clergy Life. Anyone can sign up to receive Encouragement emails here.
I’m one of those people who ALWAYS attempt to bring the weekly groceries in the house in one trip. For me, it’s not so much about eliminating multiple trips to and from the car as it is about proving I can do the difficult task. I like a good challenge, an opportunity to show I am strong and I don’t need help. Then I’m reminded that we were not created to live independently from one another. We are called to live in community, as chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
“As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:4-5
Scattered stones will not make a strong structure. It doesn’t matter how many stones or bricks we pile in the churchyard, as long as they remain scattered they will never amount to anything. A single stone cannot serve as a place of worship. A lonely brick cannot provide shelter for the needy. An individual rock cannot house the homeless. However gathered stones, unified people working together for the purposes of God, can establish mighty ministries. We are living stones. Together we can teach children to love God and grow in grace. Together we can inspire youth to pray and to serve. Together we can help the weary and heavy laden find inner peace. Together we can construct a community where multitudes can be refreshed in body, mind, and spirit. Together we can make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This
is our mission, our calling, our purpose, our identity.
Reflect: In what aspects of your life are you unnecessarily carrying heavy loads? What are you attempting to do by yourself that God intends for you to do in partnership with others? How are you living in community with others?
Take Action: Challenge yourself to invite someone (or several people) to join you in an initiative, a project, or even a relatively simple task. Afterwards give God thanks for the gift of partnership and community.
In partnership,
Center for Leadership Excellence and the Commission on the Status and Role of Women