Shelley Worthington never grew up in a church and as an adult she began looking for a place where she could ask big questions. She was welcomed at the Smithers United Church and found she wasn’t alone with her questioning. She was wondering about her purpose in life.
She was met by the church where she was in life and got baptized into a new-found faith in 2009. She was on a path and she wasn’t journeying alone.
For a time the congregation didn’t have a pastor and each member stood up and looked after various jobs. Shelley found she had "some gift for ministry from the pulpit."
Combine that with her lifelong passion for music and a map for her future became apparent.
Shelley took classes and got encouragement from the congregation. She became a student minister and got apprenticeship experience. She graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 2023 and was ordained in Vancouver in June of this year. Shelley can now work anywhere in Canada.
She answered the ‘call’ for Smithers and did an interview.
“This church raised me. They’ve been on this journey with me.”
There was a Covenanting Service for Reverend Shelley Worthington, Smithers United Church and Pacific Mountain Regional Council on Sept. 22, 2024.
It was an honour to participate in witnessing their vows, not just her vows but their vows. It is a covenant not just for Shelley to support the church but for the church to support Shelley.
Inclusiveness is what this congregation’s message is.
“All are welcome.”
Another welcoming call is for volunteers. The Smithers Seniors Centre can use cooks and cook’s helpers. In last week’s The Interior News there was a call to help at the Legion.
The list goes on.
What I hear bantered about in the nonprofit groups by members who are already volunteering is that we can use a pool of volunteers.
Realistically a group of volunteers would need someone who likes organizing and coordinating. Someone who can start it from the ground up and pass on the torch if need be.
Being a volunteer benefits everyone.
Thought for the day. Everything that and everyone who got "better with age" started out young.
If you have tips or items for this column please e-mail sonja.lester.b.c@gmail.com or phone 250-847-4414.
