For the 25 years we served New Life Presbyterian Church (NLPC), calling, work, and vocation were at the heart of our mission as a church. How could we as a church family equip and encourage those we sent out to love the world and to live faithfully in all of their labor and relationships? How could we disciple the women and men in our fellowship to show the kingdom and character of God in everything they put their hands to do, and with love and courage push back against the brokenness of the world? What formative influences might shape how together we can love the Lord our God with our whole being, love our neighbors as Christ gave his life for us, and hold all that has been entrusted to us with holy creativity and stewardship?
We think there is a story to be told about a little congregation in Ithaca, NY, worshipping and serving in the shadow of Cornell University and Ithaca College. These great schools brought the world to us. In turn, we sent God’s servants around the globe and into every area of culture. It’s a story about Holy Callings. Even more, it’s a story about God’s immeasurable love for the world and his invincible mission in creation and redemption. When the Spirit joins us to God in Christ, he joins us to his cause. As a result we have been summoned to live every part of our lives on holy ground anticipating the completion of all our God has created and redeemed.
“In nothing has the Church so lost Her hold on reality as in Her failure to understand and respect the secular vocation.”
Dorothy Sayers, “Why Work“
Holy Callings is the story of those sent from NLPC into the life of the world. Each one
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is —
Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.
“As Kingfishers Catch Fire”
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Several NLPC alums traveled to attend our retirement recognition party, and they said, “You’ve sent us out. Now you need to come visit us and let us tell you our stories about what you’ve commissioned us to do.” We said, “As God provides, we will.” Already, in 2022 while in Amsterdam, we had a remarkable visit with three alums, and in Budapest with Will Dickerson who was instrumental in the founding of NLPC when he was a graduate student at Cornell.
In 2023 we have had the joy of visiting with NLPC alums in Philadelphia; Baltimore; Phoenix; Albuquerque; Columbus, OH; Price Edward Island; and Ann Arbor, MI. Already we are in conversation about a visit to South Africa, Chicago, and the Northwest where we hope to gather more stories that we believe will become part of a book that we pray will be a help and encouragement primarily to pastors and leaders in the Church. We believe that cultivating a vision of kingdom calling within the life of local congregations is central to advancing the mission of the Church in our moment of history.
If you would like to help us with the Holy Callings project, we ask you to pray for us as we develop this idea. Pray for our health and for wisdom to know how to live wisely within our limits. If you’re an alum, we’d love to hear from you.
If this project gives you joy and if the vision behind it impresses you as something important, please consider supporting the project financially through our Fiscal Sponsor, YES.
If you are a NLPC alum, please give us an update.
Please let us know if you are praying with us and for us, and how we can pray for you.
You may also use the Contact form to inquire about our availability for speaking, mentoring, or conversation, or see Flourish Coaching about our availability for transitional church support services.