Dispatches from the assembly: 'Occupation' only part of 'vocation'

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Continuing on the assembly's theme of "Sunday Faith Meets Monday Worship," Bishop Robert D. Hofstad said during a  Bible study that our occupations are only a portion of our vocations.

Drawing from the seventh chapter of Corinthians 1, the bishop said we are called to many offices simultaneously.

Besides employee, they may be wife, mother, daughter, cousin, neighbor, co-worker, and child of God.

True vocation, he said, is a "juggling act," and we are constantly honoring and dishonoring each other in our vocations as we fall short of expectations.

"We'll never really be able to honor our vocation in the best way we can," he said.

The bishop suggested listeners look at their own vocation and its multiple offices and prioritize.

"And ask the question, 'Am I really dealing with the need of the people around me?' "

"Does this free you up?"