One of the hallmarks of the Episcopal Church from our earliest days is the truth that we are a church that has embraced Jesus words in the Gospel of St. Matthew: “The son of man did not come to be served but to serve. We have always prayed “for those who are in any kind of trouble, sorrow, need, or any other adversity. We have then put our prayers to work as a Holy work inspired action by giving of our time, our energies, and our hearts to those who need a helping hand in the name of Christ who served us first from the hard wood of the cross. Our watch word has been “self- sacrifice.”
During the Lenten Study series we were renewed in spirit by the DVD presentations and through the tools of several surveys suggested by the text. We began to wonder how we are already serving our God, our Church, and our Community, and the world at large. We wonder if we know what we are already doing as a community and as individuals, and what exactly are the gifts and talents of this congregation. Those present completed the surveys and began the conversation about outreach. We are going to invite you to participate in the survey’s which will help us in our focus and our commitment to outreach ministries.
One of the very important ways we can serve our community is becoming a part of the volunteer program at our neighborhood school, Cooper Elementary. We have invited the principal and the communications expert speak to us during breakfast on June 12. (The details are on page 6 in this Messenger.) We noted from our surveys the number of our parishioners who are or who have retired from teaching professions and wondered how we could use those resources to minster to the children of Cooper Elementary school as mentors or in other capacities. There are other needs we have the gifts and talents to us as servants and I am looking forward to hearing more about the needs of our neighborhood school.
Like any ministry the key word is creativity and commitment. We must say our prayers and then make a commitment to be present in heart, mind, and body, to do those things God is calling us to do with those children or with anything we do as outreach. We must uncover ways we can use our collective creativity as we serve others.
The recent “adversity” in Joplin is on all our minds. I have been in conversation with many people including the rector of St. Phillips, a friend, plus the bishop’s office and our Convocation Dean. We all agree that there are immediate needs but that there are also long term needs we can address together as we empower the ongoing ministry of St. Phillips. These types of events of adversity take many months to heal the brokenhearted and we can be a part of the healing.
We will begin the surveys on the Day of Pentecost, June 12,th and looking forward to your responses. We who are St. Theodore’s can out live our lives in service of our loving God to all of God’s people.
Fr. Ken
