Our Job
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
-Matthew 28:16-20
Have you ever worked with someone who used the phrase, “That’s not my job”? I believe in communicating expectations and job duties, but I also value the team spirit of working together and helping one another in a crisis. Jesus tasked his disciples with a job to do as he was preparing to leave them. They were to do the things he had done, teaching others what he had taught, baptizing them into this new community. But it wasn’t just a job. It was a calling. It was a team effort. AND it came with a promise, that he would always be with them.
In the past couple of weeks we have experienced some unforeseen interruptions to our life and worship at the church. April 24, we had pilot lights blown out in the kitchen and needed to evacuate the building between services in order to restore the gas properly, ensuring we didn’t have a dangerous leak. April 28, we had a broken water main underneath the Main Sanctuary crawl space, and had to cancel our weekend events and move worship into the Garden Sanctuary. We are busily working to restore the Main Sanctuary to full functionality, but until then, we are so thankful for the Garden Sanctuary space and the opportunity to worship.
We thank you for your flexibility and willingness to adapt to these changing circumstances. We will hold worship again this Sunday in the Garden Sanctuary at 9am and 11am. Please enter the building from the parking lot closest to the office and Kennewick Avenue. One of the blessings of these crises has been seeing God’s people love and serve one another as they love and serve the church. You truly have been the heart and hands of Jesus Christ, helping with clean up, moving hymnals, getting the word out to the congregation, singing with all your heart even without the words, the microphones, or the live-stream. You have been a blessing to me and I thank you. Next Sunday, May 15, we will have a special worship service of Gratitude. As you pray this week, I encourage you to think of someone in the church who deserves a thank you. In this newsletter you will see a link for an online “thank you”. We will share these names and stories in worship on May 15.
No matter what you face today, may you know that Jesus is with you. Whatever unexpected or unplanned obstacles you face, know that you are not alone. God is there.
God of Love that knows no boundaries: we crowd our lives with so much activity, that it is hard to find time for you. We become so focused on ourselves, we can overlook those around us who are searching for hope. We fill our spiritual emptiness with junk, rather than feasting on your Word.
Abundant Mercy, forgive us. Open our eyes, that we may see your new covenant written in plain sight on our hearts. Open our hearts, that we may join you in serving the broken of the world. Open our love, so we may pour it out as abundantly and graciously as your love is given to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
