Celebrating the Ministry of the Laity
by Alyne JoAnn Eslinger

Bellevue United Methodist Church recognizes the start of each school year by celebrating and affirming the gifts and graces of teachers in that congregation. It is a celebration for all teachers, church school and public school teachers. They are affirmed for their gifts that educate, their gifts of love for their students, their gifts of ministry in their daily lives. Their work is called a ministry in the community, but still a ministry of the congregation.

Laity Sunday in October was a day of celebration and recognition of all the occupations of people in congregations.

These kinds of recognition and celebration can be done in all congregations. They just take a little time and energy. Work with the membership person in the church office to develop the list of occupations/vocations of the members in the congregation. In developing such a listing, be sure to write down the occupation/vocation only and not the place of work. The list takes shape with nurses, postal workers, shop owners, mechanics, students, college professors, law enforcement personnel, fire fighters, and on and on with whatever occupation is represented in the congregation. Group like occupations together and have them read together with a prayer and congregational response for the work. Be sure to add the work of the pastoral leaders of the congregation. Develop a "Litany of Occupations/Vocations" in close cooperation with the pastor and worship planning team. Your congregation may use this list year after year — with adjustments and additions as membership changes. It may be used as a ritual for Laity Sunday or any other time of the year when the ministry of the laity is celebrated.

Example of a Litany for Occupations/Vocations

PEOPLE: For all those who work with their hands to build, repair, and maintain our houses and our church building. Bless them and their work. Give them strength of mind, body, and hands to safely do their work and their ministry.

Leader: For the contractors, the carpenters, the maintenance staff of this church.

PEOPLE: We are truly thankful.

PEOPLE: For those who work with their hands and minds to repair and heal our bodies. Bless them and their work. Give them strength of mind, body, and hands to safely do their work and their ministry.

Leader: For the emergency room workers, the EMT drivers and workers, the doctors, nurses, and all the aides and assistants.

PEOPLE: We are truly thankful.

Use the above litany as a model to build your own "Litany for Occupations/Vocations." Your litany will take on a character specific to your congregation. With this kind of affirmation and prayer for the laity and the work they do, a sense of their ministry in their daily lives will develop. If the sending forth at the close of each worship service speaks of the laity as faithful disciples going back into their workplaces, then people will realize that faith expressions and living do not end at 12:00 noon on Sunday, but that faithful living is for everything we do during the week. We are called to be faithful disciples in all we do and in all places.

Posted 11-7-01