Celebrating 20 Years of ordained ministry ... Hymn about ministry

Next week, I will celebrate 20 years since I was ordained a Deacon in the church. I find it difficult to believe it has been that long. It has been a very fruitful ministry with many blessings, as well as times of difficulty. In all of it, I have felt assured that God has called me to this vocation, and that God has blessed me to be able to do the work he has invited me into. It has been a time of many grace moments, of standing on holy ground, and of entering into very sacred conversations. It has been about relationships - between God and I, as well as between the people of God's church and me. I give thanks for the parishes in which I have served, and for the lessons of faith I continue to learn. I give thanks for colleagues in ministry I have worked with.

For me, times of anniversary are a natural time to look forward as well as to the past. I do so confident that God is very much a part of my present, and will undoubtedly be part of my future ministry as well. It is only by God's grace, and under the guidance of God's Holy Spirit that I can and will do the work placed before me.

Ministry is definately a priviledge. I thank God for entrusting me and for continuing to empower me to be the priest he has called me to be. I pray that my future in ministry may be as fruitful as my past; that God will continue to work through me, by His grace and blessed by His Spirit.

I wrote this hymn, "You Call us into Ministry" in honor of this anniversary to one of my favorite tunes, Woodlands, meter 10 10 10 10.

You call us into ministry to serve,
to work through us your kingdom to preserve.
Help us to always seek to do your will;
the gospel promises you will fulfill.

To care and love as instruments of grace;
a priviledge and blessing we embrace.
Its humbling as we stand on holy ground.
God is a presence real and so profound.

Blessed and empowered we're able to discern;
we're gifted with vocations as we learn;
from day to day, the story comes alive;
God's hope and promise surely will survive.

Help us to be your hands, your feet, your ears.
Inspire in us a trust despite our fears.
It seems a daunting ministry ahead;
yet with your help it's one we need not dread.

So may we risk just as the Spirit soars;
faithful and trusting that each call is yours!
Help us the truth with confidence to speak;
God's guiding presence is all that we seek.

Text: copyright, The Rev. Mark Kinghan, 2009. Not to be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express written permission of the author.