The Mission of the St Albans & Welwyn Circuit is to reveal the Kingdom of God through the Methodist people and their ecumenical partners across central Hertfordshire.  We aim to do this through the Holy Spirit in the worship of God, building up the church, making disciples of Jesus Christ and transforming society by working for justice, peace and unity. 

‘JESUS STILL CALLS AND EQUIPS’

One of the most significant and moving moments in the life of any Minister or Presbyter is their ordination. Through the laying on of hands and the offering of prayer, a person is formally authorised and set apart for the work of Christian ministry within and through the Church. It is a profound and sacred moment—an affirmation of God’s call and the Church’s response to that call.

This June, I will have the privilege of attending the Methodist Conference as an elected representative from the Bedfordshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire District. I’m especially looking forward to witnessing the ordination of a former student from Queen’s College, who once did her placement with me in the Romford Circuit and is now serving as a probationer minister in the Southend & Leigh Circuit. The Conference will be held in Telford, Shropshire, from 26th June to 2nd July. It is always humbling and uplifting to witness the ordination of new ministers, and to be reminded that Jesus Christ still calls both women and men into ordained ministry today.

Here in Britain, we continue to need people of deep faith, strong character, and a personal relationship with Christ—people who are willing to hear and respond to his call. That call may come to anyone, at any stage in life. If you feel even the faintest whisper of such a calling, I encourage you to hold it before God in prayer. Talk to your minister or someone you trust and allow time for reflection and discernment. This path is not easy, but it is profoundly meaningful and life-giving.

Yet the call of Jesus is not limited to ordained ministry. For many of us, his call comes in different but equally important ways. We are called to follow and serve him in our homes, our workplaces, our communities, and through the life and witness of our local churches. Whether you are called to be a lay leader, local preacher, worship leader, church steward, pastoral visitor, youth worker, or involved in outreach and mission or something God is calling you to do, please know that your calling matters deeply. These roles are essential to the life and growth of the Church and to the building of God’s Kingdom.

If you sense God nudging you in any of these directions, I encourage you to listen carefully, pray about it, and speak with someone who can support and guide you on the journey. The process of discernment takes time, but it is through that journey that clarity, peace, and purpose often emerge.

The heart of all Christian service is this simple truth: Jesus still calls—and he equips. I remember my own ordination in November 1990. The Revd Soma Perera, then President of the Methodist Conference, preached from John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” Those words continue to speak to me. Whatever God calls us to do, he never leaves us to do it alone. If we rely on him, he will provide all that we need to serve faithfully and well.

So may we each be attentive to his voice—ready to follow, willing to serve, and open to the transforming work of the Spirit in our lives and communities.

With blessings

Revd David Jebb