​"Many examples of calling aren’t so easily spotted. It isn’t every day that we hear someone say “I am acting in this way because of God,” or “I will not do this thing because of God.” However, God guides our lives every day, and we walk God’s path every day, and I think that’s what calling is about. I think, too, calling is about celebration of God’s forgiveness of us and love for us through our actions. Through speaking to and listening for God in our daily lives, we see so many opportunities to celebrate God’s call to love."
​- Glenn, parishioner

C3 is a Vibrant Faith initiative funded by a Lilly Endowment Grant to promote a parish culture of calling that helps Christians of all ages discover their purpose throughout life and equips them to live their calling in the church community, at home, and in the world. St. Paul's was one of 24 congregations from eight denominations chosen because of its vibrancy to be a part of this three year initiative. 

  • "Our callings in life are a dynamic response to who we are, how we live, and what we give our lives to." -Kathleen Cahalan
  • Every human being has a calling, whether they acknowledge it or not.
  • Callings are lifelong. They evolve over time. They are multiple and changing over a lifetime. They are dependent on the capacities of the body as we grow and age.
  • Callings are animated by God’s Spirit active in our lives through a diversity of gifts and charisms, through what we love and are passionate about. God creates, sanctifies, and revels in our differences and our differences are assets.
  • Living a calling is transformational for the person and for the world.
  • In the midst of life’s busyness, we don’t always take time to reflect on the deeper meaning of our lives in light of our faith.

Article Vibrant Faith published on St. Paul's: "No Ministry is Too Small"

Ways St. Paul's is Exploring Calling in All Life Stages:

Stories of Everyday Callings of Parishioners- several people share how they see calling in their daily lives:

everyday_callings.pdf
File Size: 2807 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Calling Videos

Several parishioners share stories of how they were called to become member of St. Paul's

Presentations given on Calling: 

Introduction to C3- Creating a Culture of Calling
c3_presentation.pdf
File Size: 17210 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Original 2018 Presentation Introducing C3 Initiative
2018_original_c3_presentation.pdf
File Size: 3650 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
​Becoming Instruments of God
​Living one’s calling means becoming an instrument of God in our relationships, our families, our workplace, our communities, and our world. Discover how to grow as an instrument of God. 
becoming_instruments_of_god_-_ya___adult.pdf
File Size: 291 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Calling Resources

C3 Project Online - this website designed by Vibrant Faith contains a wealth of information and resources on the project, the C3 churches involved in the project, stories, and discerning calling in all stages of life.  
  • Read stories from the 24 churches from eight denominations in a hub for innovation on “calling” from 2018 through 2021.
  • Print, audio, and video resources on calling, and sections for Adult, Children, Youth, and Intergenerational programs and activities on calling. 
  •  Discovering God's Calling in Life Transitions ​are 13 modules designed to help people discover God’s calling through through major life transitions: married life, single life, becoming a new parent, parent of a child, parent of a teen, parent of a young adult, becoming a grandparent, empty nest family, young adulthood, work, retirement, care giving, and starting a new home. 
  • The Stories We Live programs present a dynamic and fresh vision for God's calling in our lives. The eight sessions in this program explore different facets of calling through Biblical texts, theological reflection, and personal stories of others. The book, Stories We Live by Kathleen Cahalan, is the primary resource for this program. 
  • Discerning Calling: Ideas on creating an understanding of Holy Listening as a spiritual discipline, discovering your calling in each season of life, and using "5 Cups of Coffee" Calling Conversations to discover what God's call in your life is. 
    ​
The Listening Chair Podcasts interview people from all walks of life about their call stories and the holy hums of the Spirit and other influences that led them to their current vocation. You’ll hear stories of people from all ages, stages, and skill sets. As they “sit” in the Listening Chair, guests will share how they live into the calling of being a beloved child of God, and how they live out this love through their vocational calling. So if you doubt which next steps to take towards a career, think you chose the “wrong” career, are sick of people telling you that there is no money in the line of work you’re dreaming of, or that the job you want does not exist, come on over and get cozy for a listen. Chances are, listening to our guests’ stories will help you write your own.

To Bless Our Callings: Prayers, Poems, and Hymns to Celebrate Vocation - Prayer Resource
Laura Kelly Fanucci - an ecumenical collection of prayers, blessings, poetry, and sacred song from diverse traditions including Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, and non-denominational traditions.  Part I: Ages and Stages gathers prayers for children, teens, young adults, and adults in mid-life, later and older adulthood, Part II: Work and Profession offers blessings for traditional professions and overlooked occupations—from nurses to truck drivers, janitors to lawyers, salespeople to stay-at-home parents, Part III and Part IV: Seasons of the Church Year and Celebrations of the Calendar Year highlight times to preach and pray about vocation throughout the year

The Stories We Live by Kathleen Cahalan, explores vocation (calling) through eight prepositions--by, to, as, from, for, through, in, and within—that connect who we are with what we do. Beyond traditional understandings of vocation as a static noun, something we receive once in our life, the prepositions of calling open up callings as multiple, dynamic, and changing over time. Vocation entails being called by God, to follow, as I am, from loss, for service, in suffering, through others, and within God.

Lives Explored Video Project  is a video storytelling project on callings in life. We ask everyday Christians how they see God at work in their lives. Watch how their struggles, joys, and questions capture what calling means today.