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Connecting Knowing Loving Growing
United Methodist Church
“Service”
Experience
The dictionary defines service as “the act of helpful activity.” Boy, that is pretty broad, isn’t it? There are millions of examples that could fit into that definition. But that’s probably good. After all, there are millions of different needs and millions of opportunities to be of assistance to someone. So what does it mean when we commit to faithfully participate in the ministries of our church through “service”? First of all, we at Aldersgate absolutely, positively, 100% unequivocally believe that you should be in service in arenas that are not created and sponsored specifically by the church. That might include something formal like joining a local service organization or volunteering at a local school or hospital; or it may be less formal, like helping your neighbor, or helping your own family members around the house. This is what Christians do and we fully believe in serving others in capacities outside our local church. By all means, love your neighbor as yourself. However, the pledge we make when we join the church is a little more specific. When we join the church we say we will faithfully participate IN ITS MINISTRIES through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. I see that taking shape two ways. One, ministries of service to Aldersgate; and two, ministries of service from Aldersgate. First, ministries of service to Aldersgate. These would include activities such as ushering, lay reading, teaching Sunday School, greeting, singing in the choir, participating on a committee, serving on Altar Guild, cooking for a fellowship meal, or taking down chairs after the meal. Obviously, these are just a few examples of the literally hundreds of ways you can serve.
Second, ministries of service from Aldersgate. These would include mission teams, serving at Urban Ministries, walking in the CROP Walk, building with the Habitat for Humanity team, knitting prayer shawls, getting items together for Share Your Christmas, or spending the night with families staying at the church through the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Again, these are just a smattering of examples. There are so many more ways to use your gifts. But, as odd as it may be to read this coming from me, I don’t want you to hear that doing more somehow makes you better. Instead, it is more important to find the right areas of service where you can best live out the calling God has placed on you and can best use your gifts in order to minister to others. If you are doing fifteen things you may be taking up a space where someone else might like to try and serve and feels cut out. Also, you might wear yourself too thin and keep from doing your best. So, pray about where you can BEST serve the Lord in ministries to Aldersgate and/or in ministries from Aldersgate. But, don’t forget to serve the Lord in ministries that Aldersgate doesn’t even sponsor at all! In His Service, Pastor Doug 1