The Sunday before I left for YAV orientation, my home church in Canton, Ohio, held a small commissioning for me at the end of worship. It was so special to be sent surrounded by those I know and love. At the time, I didn’t realize it would be the first of three commissioning services, but looking back, it feels like the perfect way to start a year, grounded in being sent by familiar faces.
On the last day of my YAV orientation, the 2024–2025 class of Young Adult Volunteers (YAVs) gathered for a commissioning service at a small church in Douglas, Arizona, making this my second commissioning in just a few days. The congregation was small, but their love was huge. They welcomed our group, which may have been bigger than the congregation itself, with warmth, open arms and deep care. Our commissioning was such a holy and heartfelt sendoff. It was the last time we would all be together before being sent across the world to begin our year of service.
A few months later, I found myself being commissioned again, this time in New York City, where I served my YAV year. At first, it felt a little strange to repeat a ritual I had already done twice, but as I stood in Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, surrounded by a supportive congregation of those I had yet to meet, I realized how sacred this moment was, too. The Rev. Emily Brewer, a YAV alum, member of the NYC YAV Board, and a constant light through the course of my YAV year, led the commissioning with love, prayer and a deep understanding of what this year asks of us.
At that moment, it hit me: The commissioning never really ends. It wasn’t just a one-time blessing; it’s something we live daily. Each day we showed up in our sites, in our communities and in our justice work, we were living out the Great Commission. We are constantly being sent. Being commissioned three times wasn’t redundant; it was grace. It was a beautiful reminder that even when we feel far from the start of the journey, God’s sending spirit meets us again, exactly when we need it.
Isabella Ramos, Young Adult Volunteer, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Interim Unified Agency
Let us join in prayer for:
David Votta, Housekeeper, Stony Point Center, Interim Unified Agency
Michael Wade, Production Supervisor, Hubbard Press
Let us pray:
God of the traveler, thank you for sending us, again and again, through familiar doors and into unknown places. Remind us that each day is a new commissioning, a new chance to live with love, courage and purpose. Go with us as we serve, listen and grow. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment