Advices & Queries 13

Reflections by Jay Clark

“13. Do not assume that vocal ministry is never to be your part. Faithfulness and sincerity in speaking, even very briefly, may open the way to fuller ministry from others. When prompted to speak, wait patiently to know that the leading and the time are right, but do not let a sense of your own unworthiness hold you back. Pray that your ministry may arise from deep experience, and trust that words will be given to you. Try to speak audibly and distinctly, and with sensitivity to the needs of others. Beware of speaking predictably or too often, and of making additions towards the end of a meeting when it was well left before.”

You can minister in silence. Advice 13 guides you towards honest and enriching vocal ministry.

You are part of the life of the meeting.

Don’t assume that you are incapable of vocal ministry,  but also don’t assume that you know what part you should play in worship.

Quakers muffling their voices, to demonstrate that they are not speaking, but being spoken through.

Making additions. Everything has a place within the worship, has some kind of intuitive order. An intuitive sense of what is going to add to the meeting, what is going to subtract.

It’s not about you personally, but whether the meeting as a whole requires your ministry at that moment.

As the previous advice reminded us, everyone has responsibility for the meeting for worship.