Service

Yesterday at church the pews were empty.

Not because of a lack of parishioners, or funding, or a general lethargy in our Christian community but because it was designed to be that way.

Yesterday was Faith in Action Sunday and as a congregation it was decided that instead of sitting in church for service, the church would go out in service to the community.

So we went.

I am happy to report that a good many people came and that we were able to accomplish what we set out to do.  We fed the homeless, gave away hygiene kits, cleaned up the litter from a section of a popular walking trail, cleaned and did some painting at the Rescue Mission and cleaned up a house and got it ready for several young girls aging out of the foster care system.   Did you know that most charities are closed on Sunday's?   Did you know that most of the kids in the foster care systems are left to fend for themselves the day they turn 18?  That many of them are left with nothing and no place to go?

The pastor sent us all out with a mustard seed in our pocket as a reminder to each of us that what we were doing was planting seeds and that as we are faithful in planting, Christ is faithful in growing.

I spent my time in the homeless shelter's kitchen filling cups with orange juice and coffee.  Others would take it to the tables.  On one trip back my friend told me a little one had asked if there was any hot cocoa, when she had to tell him no, he sighed a little sigh and tried to hide his disappointment.  It just about broke my heart, this family living on the street heard about the promise of a meal on a crisp autumn Sunday morning and came to eat.  I'm sure they went away with their belly's full, but for how long, who knows where their next meal will come from, this child who hoped to sip a hot cocoa, went away wanting.  If I could have given him one I would have.

It made me mindful of the things I take for granted and grateful for the blessings I have been given.

I am going to take that mustard seed and plant it and see how big it grows.

Then He said.  "What is the kingdom of God like?  And to what shall I compare it?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."  -  Luke 13:18-19


Lord thank you for the promise that you will prepare a place for us and I pray that we all can find shelter under your branches.  Amen.