I am in Need of Your Prayers and Thoughts

[Maestro]

My friends, I am in need your good thoughts, prayers, and any other positive vibes you can throw my way.

Ten years ago, following my Lutheran Grandfather's wake, his pastor asked me to consider ordained ministry. I'm a cradle Catholic and I was engaged at the time. Knowing my family the way she did, the pastor suggested that I might consider answering the call in the Lutheran church, instead of the Catholic one.

Over the years, I've had similar "calls" from people, and yes, some have suggested being a Catholic Deacon, while others suggested the Lutheran church.

Two months ago, I made a decision to answer those calls in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and I formally joined the ELCA church I was playing organ for (music has been an ecumenical in for me). I have been on the music staff of many Protestant churches over the years, and I've been on the staff of this one for over five years.

Long story short, in the next month or so, I will be submitting my paperwork for Candidacy to ordination and my application to attend seminary. I hope that you can keep me in your thoughts and prayers during this arduous process.

And yes, I am holding my Grandfather's pastor accountable for her actions. She is serving as one of my seminary recommenders.

 

[Count Zero]

Well, good luck! That's all I can say, not believing in God. I'm still a member of the Lutheran church here in Germany, though, so we're sort of siblings in faith.
Weren't you Catholic once? I'm curious if the transition to the Lutheran faith was difficult and whether you sometimes miss elements of the Catholic Church (customs, liturgy, saints etc.). Feel free to disregard the questions if you think they're too intrusive, though.

 

[The Badger]

I'm with Dr. Mabuse/Count Zero on this one. I'm not a believer, so I cannot offer prayer, but I hope your decision brings you happiness and fulfilment.

 

[Maestro]

It's funny that you should mention elements like "the saints." Neither my parents nor the Catholic church I grew up were big on teaching us to do and believe in the things Luther railed against.

We were never taught to pray through the saints, be so goofy about Mary, and so forth.

The parish I've joined is not completely "high church," but on the spectrum they're on the high side of the middle. No incense, but vestments, Eucharistic Prayers, the Epiclesis, etc. The pastor who called me years ago is very high church, so a lot of the customs won't be gone, they'll just be optional. I'm not ever going to cease the Eucharistic Fast or fasting and abstaining during Lent either.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Well, good luck. Though I don't understand why you'd need our prayers and/or thoughts?

Half the stuff you're talking about is outside of my experience (being non-christian), so it seems you'll do quite well on your own.

 

[Count Zero]

Seems as if I've always been to 'high churches'. It sounds as if you've found a new spiritual home.
The reason I was asking these questions is that I've been to my share of Catholic services and somehow always felt odd. Most of it is probably just a question of getting used to. Then there's the difference in Eucharist. Anyway, even when I still believed in God I could never imagine myself converting to Catholicism, although I know a few people who did. So I wondered what it would be like the other way around.

Well, it's certainly a big step to devote a large part of your life to God. I hope it works out for you.

 

[Joshua Howard]

"Going My Way" and "The Bells of Saint Mary's" (1944/1945 Bing Crosby Films) come to mind. Understandably this is a big step and somewhat difficult psychologically, because if you go through with it, it inevitably means a life of relative solitude and isolation, at least compared to other lifestyles. It's a big commitment; best wishes on your journey.

My only bit of advice is to let this calling grow naturally. There is a temptation to get into a rut after a while, wherein you tell yourself that it is too late to change your mind or course if you feel like you need to. Just remember, if it is meant to be, it will be a positive and enlightening experience, and it will bring you great happiness. If it does not, there is always a fresh tomorrow. The fact that you are traveling in this direction doesn't mean that you are necessarily signing a lifelong contract with the church.

 

[Sagart]

Well, as someone who's been there and done that (I was ordained a Catholic priest 15 years ago), I wish you every blessing for your journey. I entered the seminary in 1988 and it was an extraordinary 6 years.
I'm not sure what advice I can give as it's such an intimate exploration of your faith and your vocation but if I were to give you any advice it would be to trust in what God sees in you, to believe that, if God is calling you to this life, then he has a reason to do so. Your ministry must be a natural extension of your own self, if it isn't a natural fit then perhaps it's not for you. For me, my ministry is as uniquely mine as my fingerprints. At the end of the day, make sure that the call you are answering is God's, not someone elses. When I was in the seminary there were guys who had entered for the wrong reasons or because they were trying to please someone else. That will never work.
The time you will spend in the seminary will be a time of discernment more than anything else, a time to sift through all the other voices to hear the voice of God and to listen to what he is saying to you, what he is calling you to.

I wish you every happiness and blessing.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Good luck to you. I hope it all works out.

 

[Holdfast]

Well, good luck to you.

Ballsy move; don't you have to give material stuff up to do this sort of thing? *shudder*

 

[JAG]

Good luck and God bless. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I too have sometimes felt the call to be a deacon in the church. (Catholic). Many people have told me I should do it, but I am unsure of it at this point.

 

[JustKate]

Good luck to you and God's blessings on your search for discernment. I don't know if this is the right thing to say to someone who's entering the ministry, but I really don't think God cares much what denomination a person belongs to. What matters is how close that denomination brings you to God. So why not Lutheranism - that's what I say.

And I'm a Presbyterian (I'm ordained as an elder in the Presbyterian Church USA), by the way, so I'm not talking as a recruiter here.

 

[Colonel Green]

Usually when people post this kind of thread they're asking for help with an illness in the family or something.

To be frank, this thread seems kinda selfish, akin to somebody asking people to pray that they pass their math final.

 

[JustKate]

Well, but getting accepted into seminary isn't on the same level of labor as passing a math level. If what I've heard is correct, it's a very loooooooong and involved process - not just bureaucratically but spiritually and philosophically.

 

[Michael Chris]

Agreed on the denomination doesn't really matter point upthread. I wish you the very very best! I pray that you will be a strong light for Christ!!

 

[Maestro]

My thanks to all those who have responded, whether in prayer, positive thoughts, or in words. This is a long path, but I am very excited about getting the process started.

To the dear priest who posted about call versus what I want, I've never said that I want this. This seems to be something He wants for me, and that's why it's taken me 10 years to actually do something about this. I do very much appreciate your words of concern however. I most certainly want to do this for the right reasons.