Every now and then, on a Wednesday evening at 5:30 in Room 10 in the Bloom Music center, someone brings cookies – and a success story to share! It signals that they have found a new job, often after months of involuntary unemployment and gives hope to those in the room who are still looking.
When I first talked to Blake and Greg about starting a Career Transition Group here at St. Philip’s, we talked about whether it should be under education (one goal is to learn job search skills) or outreach (many of the people attending are not parishioners and we welcome all). I’m delighted that it has found a home under the Pastoral Care commission. The primary goal of the group is to provide a place for people in transition to share stories, leads, ideas and most of all to get reassurance that they are not alone.
I send emails to over 90 people each week, several of whom forward it to others who may need the support. Over 50 people have attended over the last year and eight, I know, have landed jobs and several more are pursuing their own ventures. Unfortunately, not everyone returns when there is good news. I expect they want to put the whole experience of unemployment behind them
Why is important for me to give up my Wednesday evenings and how does it deepen my faith and my commitment to St; Philip’s?
Raymond and I first visited St. Philip’s in February, 2006 with Raymond’s sister, Doris Roth, a parishioner and snow bird. We had already fallen in love with Tucson and decided to move here, but knew that we would miss the activities and community of our church in East Haddam, Connecticut, a parish of about 100 families.
We were attracted first by the beautiful campus and church, then by the music on a first Sunday and finally by the warm welcome of all the people who greeted us that day. Returning and joining St. Philips when we finally moved early in 2008 was an obvious choice.
It was then that learned about the forums and heard the Chalice Players - and we discovered breakfast! We delighted in both the nourishment and community – so much so that we volunteered to serve, our first involvement in ministry at St. Philips. It helped me (an introvert, though a friendly one), to get to know a few people.
We moved quite often when I was a child. I was baptized in the Church of England, confirmed in the Anglican Church of Canada and came to the Episcopal Church in my teens, becoming active in the youth group at Christ and Holy Trinity in Westport, CT. I realize that for me, the church is a place of welcome, of community and of refuge. Church runs deep in my family. My father was very involved, ushering and on vestry. And I recall the daily devotions book that was always on my maternal grandmother’s night table. Her father was the minister at Wickhambreau in Devon, England. My mother recalls fondly visits to that vicarage and summers at the one on the Isle of Wight where her uncle was vicar.
I expect, when I find myself in a new place that the church will be a place where I can begin to build community and form friendships. I’ve learned, however that I will only find community, if I am willing to give of my time and talents.
My philosophy is summed up in a Hymn from the Celebration Hymnal:
Will
you let me be your servant,
let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I might have the grace to
let you be my servant too.
We
are pilgrims on a journey;
we are travelers on the road.
We are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.
I
will hold the Christ-light for you
in the nighttime of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.
I
will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.
Will
you let me be your servant,
let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I might have the grace to
let you be my servant too.
We arrived in Tucson as the great recession was in full bloom. I had worked as a career coach for Right Management on an “as needed” basis for several years and now they needed me in their home-based program – connecting with people who had lost their jobs around the country, by phone and through the internet. I had lots of people contact, but did not meet anyone face-to-face. Tough when you’re new in town! Breakfast and attending church helped, but I also wanted to use the talents I have to meet and help others in the community. I looked for a job support group – there had been several in Connecticut where I had volunteered my time, but did not find one, so suggested we start one here.
In a previous career, I had been told I was aloof (the introvert coming out, or my British reserve). Here I learned to welcome strangers, and learned to get out of my own way, giving minimal direction. In the words of my coaching training – I hold the participants in my groups creative, resourceful and whole. Or from the perspective of my faith, I have learned the power of giving people a safe space to hear God’s call to them – whether or not they phrase it in those terms. The meetings are most vibrant, supportive and successful when I plant a seed of thought or an idea and let the spirit move the group to respond.
Years ago, when I first took a career directions course and discovered that there was something called career coaching, I was told by the instructor not to pursue it. I was working as a project manager developing financial systems for a major NY bank, and she though that technology was where the glamor, money and future lied, and I would feel left behind. I continued for several more years unhappy in my field, and it took me 15 years to finally make the switch. Even today, I sometimes hear myself say that I can also do technical training (my interim career) – just in case what I Iove to do isn’t real.
By giving my time to the Career ministry at St. Philips, and now working with Greg, Rosalind, Eric Rau and James Humphreys to lead mini-ministry development workshops that help others to discover where their interests lie as they consider donating their time and talent to St. Philips, I have finally stepped fully into who I am and acknowledged the gifts God has given me. I give thanks for the support of the parish and delight in the thanks I get from the people whose lives I’ve touched. I’m getting known as a resource in the community. It is helping me to build a private practice here. It has taken the community of St. Philips to help me not hide my candle under a bushel.
All this is possible because St. Philip’s is here. The staff and clergy are here. The room is available. It has heat and air conditioning.
I like to think of the church as eternal, cushioned from the economic realities that face us in the greater community. But that is foolish, so I must consider the value of all this to me. Is it worth what I spend on a daily coffee, or tickets to concerts, or a nice dinners out, or the cost of a course or lecture series – I get all these here. Most priceless is that St. Philip’s supports me as who I am.
Some of you have met me with a basket of questions to ponder at the Ministry Fair or at last year’s Elder Fair. As I conclude and we prayerfully consider our commitment to St. Philip’s let me leave you with one now.
What gifts are you hiding from the light?
* Text & tune: Richard Gillard © 1977 Scripture in Song, a division of Integrity Music, Inc.