1. Training and preparation
Ministers of The Word
Training and preparation

2. Opening Prayer
God of mystery and of power, nothing is hid from you, to you all things are plain. Give us grace, O Lord, to hear your word and see your hand. Your might and your strength are beyond all comparison. Your love is greater than words can say. You call us Lord to a closer walk with you. You guide us into the paths that you have chosen in your wisdom. Keep us from fleeing your presence. Make us responsive to your loving call (silent prayer) Gracious Father, hear our prayer and make us new. We ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forevermore. Amen.

3. Why did I come here today?
WHY ARE WE HERE?
Why did I come here today?
Why do I want to become a Minister of the Word?
What are our aims?

4. WHY WE CAME HERE TODAY? Asked to be a Minister of the Word
Wanted to be more involved in parish, being a Minister of the Word is one good way
Always wanted to be a Minister of the Word but didn’t have the time/courage until now
Feel being a Minister of the Word is something you want to do, should do,….or are called to do

5. WHY BE A MINISTER OF THE WORD?
More ministers were needed
It is a recognised role for lay people in a parish
Occasional commitment
Don’t know enough about or have fear of other types of ministry
Feel called to this particular form of ministry

6. BAPTISM Why you? You are the members of the body of Christ
“but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1pt 2:9)
In baptism we are fully initiated by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s body the Church.
You share in the preaching, teaching and leading aspects of the Church.

7. What does the word “Minister” mean to me?

8. What does the term
“Minister of The Word”
mean to me?

9. The Presence of Christ in the Word

10. (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth
(John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
Revelation 22:20-21 Come, Lord Jesus

11. Introduction to the lectionary: Part 5
When in celebrating the liturgy the Church proclaims both the Old and New Testament, it is proclaiming one and the same mystery of Christ
The New testament lies hidden in the Old; the Old testament comes fully to light in the new.
Christ himself is the centre and fullness of all Scripture, as he is of the entire liturgy.

12. The more profound our understanding of the liturgical celebration, the higher our appreciation of the importance of God’s word.
“Whatever we say of one, we can in turn say of the other, because each recalls the mystery of Christ and each in its own way causes that mystery to be ever present” (IL par 5)

13. Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
“ He is present in his Word, since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in Church”

14. St. Augustine's Sermon 191
“The one who made us became one of us – the ruler of the stars nursed at a mother’s breast. Yes he became one o us – bread hungered, drink grew thirsty, light slept, the way became weary and tired, Truth was accused of bearing false witness, the cornerstone was suspended on wood, strength tottered, the healer was wounded, life died”

15. Dei Verbum
“The Church has always venerated the divine scriptures as she venerated the Body of the Lord”(DV 21)
The Church never ceases, above all in the sacred liturgy, to partake