Coming up on September 10th Bethlehem will be participating in the ELCA’s God’s Work Our Hands Sunday. It is also the 10th anniversary that the ELCA has invited congregations across the country (and beyond) to work together for an intentional day of service.
What I love about this day is that while we pack blessing bags and/or whatever else we may do that day there are churches in the valley, in the state of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Ohio, Massachusetts and everywhere in between also coming together in their own ways to serve their communities. So, while it may seem like a small impact that we make at our level, know that we are joined by so many other brothers and sisters in Christ who are serving their neighbors alongside us.
What I also think is equally as important to remember about God’s Work Our Hands Sunday is that it is a day to encourage service. It is a way for us, if we aren’t already, to get in the habit of serving our neighbors just as Jesus did. What it should not be is a way for us to think that is the only day that we serve, but simply one of many days that we serve our neighbors.
Sometimes it is easy to get into habits like thinking that we have a special day of service and so we serve on that day. The downside is that when we get into those habits, we sometimes forget that we are called into service every day of our lives. Service doesn’t have to be big projects like putting together hundreds of food and hygiene bags for those in need, but we can find ways to serve in our lives.
I pray that each of your prayerfully consider joining us for a very special 10thanniversary of God’s Work Our Hands Sunday on September 10th. Also think of the ways you already serve or new ways that you can serve your neighbor so that we can continue to spread and share the good news of Jesus Christ into this community. Keep in mind that people are doing that all across this country and world, and that we can all make this world more in the image that God created it to be.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
