August 2018

The Gift of Service

 

“. . . but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13b)

 

Well, August is here. Soon, teachers and kids will be back to school, Summer vacations will be a memory, and everyone will be back in the grind. Pencils, paper, Lunchables and school stuff are flying off the shelves as everyone prepares for back to school. Even those without school-aged children feel the effects – from traffic to crowded stores to early fundraising solicitations. BTW, if we haven’t contacted you about supporting the OSHS Band yet, just hang on!

August is also shaping up to be a pretty exciting time here at EBC – we are moving toward the end of our church year, and the beginning of another. It’s a time of reflecting on the year that was – with all of it’s ministries and opportunities for fellowship and service – and planning for what we anticipate will be the most sensational and productive year in our history. God has really been doing some incredible things in our church and, as long as we keep responding in faith and obedience, He promises to do even more!

That’s where we all come in. Last week, everyone at the morning service was given a Church Team/Committee Form to look over, pray about, and complete. As the new year begins, it’s time for us to renew our commitment to serving God through His church by volunteering to serve on one or more of the committees of the church. These committees do the work of making sure that the church operates in an efficient, effective, Christ-honoring way through our stewardship of the gifts and resources God has blessed us with. Ever thought of the Baptism Committee as stewardship? How about the Hospitality, or the Education Committees? Yes, each of the teams that you were asked to prayerfully consider serving on are opportunities for us to work together to maximize the gifts we have been given to the work that the Holy Spirit enables and empowers us to do. That’s stewardship – it’s not just for money anymore!
 

This is part of the gift of service to which all Christians are called. And, we should be willing to serve in such a way that our lives are a testimony to the love of Christ in our lives, and the love we have for each other. As Paul wrote the church in Galatians 5:13, “through love serve one another.” Notice that we aren’t called to serve only when it’s comfortable, or convenient, or involves something we like. Service is about surrendering yourself to the Kingdom work to which we have been entrusted – it’s about stewardship. And, a few can’t do it alone – it takes all of us, working together, combining our gifts and talents, to be the family, the church, that God created us to be.

 

So, I hope you’ll sign up to serve somewhere. The forms are due back at the church by Sunday, August 5th. And, be on the lookout for other opportunities to become involved in the various ministries of the church – once we get the committees sorted out and working, we’ll be letting you know how to be more directly involved in missions and ministry work through our ministry teams. Get rested up! It’s going to be an exciting year at Emmanuel!!

 

In His Love,

Bro. Heath

 

                  

 

 

 


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