SERVING TOGETHER
As we approach the fifth week in the season of Lent, we consider the ways that we are called to serve together as we continue our growth as a community of faith. There are many ways that we can learn the joys of serving together and offering encouragement to others. The theme of Day 33 in Rick Warren’s daily devotional is “using our talents to bless each other.” Warren also introduces the acronym S-H-A-P-E to help us to broadly assess our unique gifts and abilities to serve others. The letters refer to (1) Spiritual Gifts; (2) Heart; (3) Abilities; (4) Personality; (5) Experiences. Our spiritual gifts influence our motivation (or heart). Our abilities can shape our personality and determine some of our most important experiences. Surprisingly, Warren identifies painful experiences among the areas that will influence our service to others.
For some, it is the compassion that we feel toward others that will motivate us to serve in ways that are intended to help others avoid some of the painful mistakes and experiences that have shaped our lives. We should “help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord” (Romans 15:2 NLT). However, when our concern is too inwardly focused, we can easily miss the blessing of serving together. Serving is not a Christian obligation, it is an invitation to use our gifts to serve and share. The community is enriched by the generosity of others. Warren notes “when we don’t share, we’re keeping the community of believers from experiencing the full blessings of God, and we’re being poor stewards of all God has given us” (pg. 132).
The Message translation of the Bible has a somewhat unique and yet, very effective way of presenting scriptures that poignantly deliver decisive instructions. Warren quotes the Pauline epistle to remind us that we should forget ourselves “long enough to lend a helping hand” (Philippians 2:4 MSG). Our Lenten focus on community has hopefully encouraged each of us to strengthen, or at least, build a relationship with someone in the church that we be mutually beneficial in our spiritual growth. While salvation is often the goal that many people pursue, “we are not saved by serving, we are saved for serving” (p. 124).
As we have explored the many ways that we are truly better together, our vision for the church incorporates the strengthening of relationships among the people of the church. Through the numerous references to the Pauline letters, Warren has emphasized the characteristics of love (e.g., love believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things, etc) that invite us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). We pray that we are growing stronger as a community of believers. We are looking forward to seeing you in worship Sunday morning. Invite a friend, neighbor, relative, stranger, colleague or even an enemy to come to church with you, especially during the services of Holy Week. The Maundy Thursday service will be April 17 at 7:00pm at the East Moline campus. There will be two Good Friday services: one at 12:00pm at the East Moline campus that will include Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai as the preacher, as well as pastors and members from many of the United Methodist congregations in the quad cities area; and a second service at 7:00pm at the Silvis campus.
In Christ,
Jon McCoy
