Resources

Check out these resources on calling to explore vocation with your community!

Called to Racial Justice Resources

There are a lot of great racial justice resources available. We are highlighting those recommended by the CCI congregations and those that focus on calling. Please email Jessie with other suggestions.

Vocational Questions Concerning the Call to Racial Justicethese questions are intended for a group of people in predominantly White congregations, discerning both individual and communal callings to a ministry of racial justice.

Pray, Study, and Work: Benedictine ideas for discerning anti-racism — this article, written by Jessie Bazan, suggests ways white Christians discerning how to be anti-racist can take action through study, prayer, and work around related social issues. 

The Call of This Moment: An Anti-Racism Workshop with Rev. Jacqui Lewis Rev. Jacqui Lewis says, “We become who we become because of the stories that shape us.” Race is a story that profoundly shapes our callings. In her two-part workshop, Lewis helps participants take stock of their individual stories of race and considers how we can change the story of race in the United States. The workshop videos cost $25 to download and come highly recommended from the Plymouth team.

White Privilege: Let’s Talk — A Resource for Transformational DialogueMembers of First Congregational UCC in Boulder are using this curriculum, developed by United Church of Christ leadership, to discern their communal calling for this time.

Prayer of Confessionwritten by Rev. Erica Cooper of Plymouth Church, this prayer acknowledges how “we have turned away from the calling of your Spirit to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.” Cooper asks the Holy Spirit for forgiveness and to “ignite our hearts to pursue your vision for our world.”

Prayer for the Spiritwritten by Rev. Mark Patrick of Colonial Church, this prayer asks for the intercession of the Holy Spirit as the community confronts racism and discerns action, for “only by your spirit can we create the faith community you have always called us to be.” 

Called to Lament and Hope Resources

Lament ExerciseThis exercise lays out a form for writing a lament, using Psalm 22 as a template. 

Nature as Practice in GriefThe intention of this practice is to recover in your memory places in nature you have gone for consolation and to return there or find new places in the natural world that comfort you. 

Ryland Angel Chants Psalm 142 — “I cry to the Lord with my voice. I pour out my complaint before him, and tell him all my troubles …”

Examples of Congregational Projects on Calling

  • Creative Strategies on Callinga webinar offering practical ideas for starting or continuing efforts around vocation and calling in your congregational community. Chris Braudaway-Bauman, pastor of Frist Congregational Church in Boulder, shares her story of an innovative, multi-year effort around vocation from Wellesley Village Church. Laura Kelly Fanucci also shares an overview of the Exploring Vocation in Community program in which 10 congregations worked on vocation: project examples, key findings, and best practices. Click here to download the webinar PowerPoint. Additionally, Chris shares an example schedule and brochure from the GIFT in Testimony program.

Small Group Programs

Small Group Programs:

Called to Life is a 6-week program for small groups in parishes and congregations to explore questions of vocation and calling—how God works in our everyday lives.

Called to Work is a 6-week program for small groups in parishes and congregations to explore questions of vocation and profession—how God calls in our everyday work.

All materials are available for free online for participants and facilitators.

Pastor Jason Van Hunnik of Westwood Lutheran Church (who presented at the June 2019 meeting) developed curricula for small groups on calling available online:

Leif Kehrwald of the C3 Project from Vibrant Faith designed 14 modules to help people discover God’s calling through major life transitions. They are designed in a concise format so they can be used in a variety of settings – individual, home, small groups, or whole church community.

Each module is designed using a three movement process: 1) What’s Changing in My Life, 2) What’s Emerging in My Life?, and 3) How Should I Be Living My Life?

Videos

Videos:

  • Lives Explored is a video storytelling project on vocation. We ask everyday Christians how they see God at work in their lives. Watch how their struggles, joys, and questions capture what calling means today.
  • Foundations of Discernment from the Community of Christ curates voices speaking about vocation.

Worship & Prayer Resources

Worship & Prayer Resources