Be a Blessing

It was the summer of 1989. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was playing at the local drive-in, Milli Vanilli was heating up the airwaves, and I was seventeen with nothing to do but enjoy my vacation...until my friend Jennifer came up with a crazy idea. “Let’s teach Vacation Bible School,” she said. I told her she was a lunatic. I told her there was no way I was giving up a week of my summer to hang out with little kids. But Jennifer (who was also the pastor’s daughter) was persistent and persuasive. I caved.

It ended up being the best week of the summer and a wonderful opportunity to share my faith. Jen and I enjoyed the experience so much that we volunteered to teach Sunday School that fall. What really surprised me though was how much our involvement meant to other members of our congregation. One parishioner even remarked that we were a “blessing.” As Jen and I discovered, young people really can make a difference in the life and ministry of their church.

Now that I am a little older, I really understand what that parishioner meant. Have you ever thought about how you could be a blessing to your church? You might be already. Just seeing a young person seated in a pew is enough to buoy many a members’ spirits. But you might want to consider becoming even more involved in the life of your church. Of course, church is foremost about God pouring His blessings on you. But in response, think you don’t have a gift to share? Think again.

✠ Lift up your voice and sing. You may not have what it takes to make it on American Idol, but you’ve certainly got the right stuff for your church choir.

✠ Have the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon? Offer to teach Sunday School or Vacation Bible School.

✠ Ace at babysitting? There might be some great opportunities to help out, like when your pastor is teaching adult confirmation class.

✠ Computer geek? Offer to help your church with their website. Or put your AV equipment to work and record Sunday services for shut-ins.

✠ Guru in the kitchen? Sign up to bring cookies for coffee hour. Strap on that apron, and mix things up for the Advent and Lenten soup suppers.

✠ Gift of gab? There are probably some elderly folks who would love a visit. Ask your pastor. Take a friend,

✠ No place in your friend’s rock band for your clarinet? Volunteer to play special prelude, postlude, or offertory music. Better yet, put those many, many years of piano lessons to good use and fill-in for your church organist once in a while.

✠ Fancy yourself a witty Wordsworth? Write an article for your church newsletter. Write an article for Higher Things!

✠ Anxious to show off your mighty muscles? Rake leaves, shovel sidewalks, or mow the lawn around your church.

You get the point. There are so many ways to be a blessing to your congregation, and every congregation will have its own unique set of needs. Even if you can’t do any of the things I’ve mentioned above, you can still be a greeter or an acolyte or just a faithful worshipper sitting in the pew!

Not sure where to start? Try talking to your pastor. Express your willingness to help. Your pastor can tell you where the church can best use your time and talents. Remember that part of serving isn’t forcing your way in: there may be a reason that it won’t work out. Afraid to go it alone? Volunteer with a friend. That approach certainly worked for my friend Jennifer and me. Some churches unused to youth participation may not know what to do with you. Don’t be surprised, or discouraged, if your offer of assistance isn’t taken up right away. You’ve made yourself available. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.

As you probably already know, the more you participate in something, the more a part of it you become. The great thing about “being a blessing” to your congregation is that it ties you more closely to the life of your church. And never forget: the greatest importance of church is that through it the Lord comes to serve and be a blessing to you.

Julie Beckwith is assistant editor of Higher Things. E-mail her at higherthingseditorial@gmail.com.