BIBLE PASSAGES FOR REFLECTION AND STUDY

Personal calling stories

• The call of Abraham (Gen 12.1-3)
• The call of Samuel (1 Sam 3.1-10)
• The call of Isaiah (Is 6.1-8)
• The call of the first disciples (Mk 1.16, Mt 4.18, Lk 5.1-10, Jn 2.35-42)

Calls to belong

• Being children of God (Mt 5.9, 1 Jn 3.1)
• The body & its members (1 Cor 12.12-26)
• The early Church (Acts 2.43-47)

Gifts and talents

• The gifts of the Spirit (Rom 12.3-8 / 1 Cor 12.4-11 / Eph 4.11-16)
• The parable of the talents (Mt 25.14-30)
• Our gifts are from God (1 Pet 4.10-11, 2)

Hard callings

• The call of Jonah (Jonah - all of it)
• Paul wrestles with himself! (Rom 7.15-24)
• The cost of discipleship (Mt 8.18-22, Mk 8.34)

Work and life

• Working as if for God (Col 3.23)
• Mary and Martha (Lk 10.38-42)         
• What’s worth working for? (Jn 6.27-29)
• Tilling the land (Gen 2.15 / Gen 3.17-18)

Being sent out

• The great commission (Mt 28.16-20)
• Jesus' own calling (Luke 4.16-21)

BOOKS ON VOCATION

• John Adair - How to Find your Vocation (Canterbury Press, 2000)
• Stuart Buchanan - On Call (BRF, 2001)
• Maria Boulding - A Touch of God (Triangle, 1988)
• Janice Catron - God’s vision, our calling (Westminster / John Knox Press, 2003)
• Os Clarke - The Call (Spring Harvest, 2001)
• Francis Dewar - Invitations: God’s calling for everyone (SPCK, 1996)
• Francis Dewar - Live for a change: Discovering and using your gifts (DLT, 1988)
• Francis Dewar - Called or collared: An alternative approach to vocation
• Joyce Huggett - Listening to God (Hodder & Stoughton, 1996, 2005)
• Gerard Hughes - God of Surprises (DLT, 1996)
• Sr Margaret Magdelene CSMV - Vocation: Exploring Call and Identity (Grove Books S105, 2008)
• Henri Nouwen - The Road to Daybreak (DLT, 1989)
• Stephen Platten - Vocation: Singing the Lord's Song ( SPCK, 2007)
• Steve Walton - A call to live (Triangle, 1994)
• Rowan Williams - ‘Vocation (1)’ and ‘Vocation (2)’ in Open to Judgement: Sermons and Addresses London: Darton Longman & Todd, 1994. pp. 171-177 & 178-184.
• Rowan Williams - ‘Vocation’ in The Way Ahead: Church of England Schools in the New Millennium (GS 1406) London: Church House Publishing, 2001. pp.91-92.

BOOKS ON LICENSED LAY MINISTRY

• Carolyn Headley - Readers and Worship in the Church of England (Grove booklets no.W115, available from Grove Books Ltd Ridley Hall Road Cambridge. CB3 9HU.)
• Pat Nappin et al - Bridging the Gap (available from Central Readers Council, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1 3NZ) 

BOOKS ON ORDINATION & PRIESTHOOD

• Christopher Cocksworth & Rosalind Brown - Being a priest today (Canterbury Press, 2002)
• Steven Croft - Ministry in Three Dimensions (DLT, 2008)
• Robin Greenwood - Transforming priesthood (SPCK, 1994)
• Richard Giles - Here am I: reflections on the ordained life (Canterbury Press, 2006)
• John Pritchard - The Life and Work of a Priest (SPCK, 2007)
• Michael Ramsey - The Christian priest today (SPCK 1972, 1985 etc)
• John Witcombe (ed) - The Curate's Guide (CHP, 2005)