The Church Year calendar is winding down quickly! Later this month (on the 17th) we will have our congregational Thanksgiving Dinner, and on the 28th another dinner in conjunction with the Church Bazaar/Auction. Please don’t just make plans, but really, honestly be here for both of these! It’s a great way to enjoy time with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
On the heels of the Bazaar we will be entering the season of Advent, and before you know what has happened Christmas will be here and gone, and you will be conducting your annual meeting, electing new council members and conducting the “business” of the congregation. I don’t remember where I heard it, but someone recently said (paraphrasing here) “Church isn’t just an idea floating around out there. It’s a building where we receive God’s Word and Sacraments, and His blessings.”
We probably all have somewhat different ways of relating to the Church these days. It may be primarily a place to quilt. Or a place where the Scouts meet, or other outside groups have access to space where they can be together. But at it’s heart, this is really to be where God’s people live deeply as His own; where you have your most precious times. Not just baptisms, weddings and funerals, but times of week-in and week-out living in His presence in joys and sorrows; times for hearing God’s Word of repentance and forgiveness and of restoration to His favor on account of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. The Church is where we come to receive all the comforts and blessings of God for ourselves and our children, and where we offer these to our friends and neighbors as well.
A place is needed; a building where you can come as His own dear child; where in the Divine Service (He comes to serve you) you can receive His gifts and extend His presence into your world where you can “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” It’s important to work together for these purposes.
There are opportunities for you to help. Church Council is important; it is the focal point of activity and where we make sure things are in place for our “mission.” We’ll need several new members to serve. We’ll need others to help keep the property in good repair, keep our attendance and membership records up-to-date, plan for worship as the church seasons change, serve as worship assistants, track memorials given to the congregation in honor of those who have died, reach out to the community around us.
All these tasks and more need to be taken care of, but all is done with one overarching purpose: to keep the gifts that God continues to give you through His Church coming to you and your family. You might get a call in the next two months asking for your help in a specific capacity. You might not. Please don’t worry about experience, or qualifications, or anything else. God works through your hands to bless His people. Please prayerfully consider where you might be a part, and volunteer. After all, it is for Him, and His glory.