What Gifts Do We Bring?

After ten years of dedicated service, Ginger Younie is stepping down from the worship committee. In case you don’t know, Ginger is the lady with the clipboard. She has been recruiting almost all of our Sunday volunteers: ushers, greeters, chalice lighters, and people to bring flowers. She has spent about five hours a week ‘filling holes,’ and the hole that she is leaving as she resigns is nigh on impossible to fill by any one person.

So...first of all, I’d like everyone to make sure to thank Ginger for all she has done. And secondly, I’d like to ask everyone to reflect a bit on the gifts you bring to our shared worship services.

When we gather on Sunday, we come bearing gifts. Some people bring the gift of song; our choir, special musicians, and of course, our faithful accompanist spring to mind immediately, but everyone who sings along with the hymns offers a gift to the broader community. When we sing together, we are singing to one another.

Other people bring the gift of their experience. Lay leaders, and of course whoever offers the sermon, offer what Theodore Parker calls true preaching: “life passed through the fire of thought.” Everyone who lights a candle of joy or concern offers this gift, as well.

Then there is the gift of service. Ushers welcome people at the door and hand out programs, pass the plate, and count the money. It’s not a hard job, but it’s certainly a necessary one. Other people serve as “sanctuary elves,” making sure the candles are lit and the speaker has water. On average, about twelve people volunteer in some way on Sunday morning. These are the ‘holes’ that Ginger has been recruiting people to fill.

Perhaps the most important gift, however, is our presence. Can you imagine lighting a candle of concern and looking out on an empty room? It does not have the same impact at all.

I know that many people look at the newsletter or the website at the subject of the worship service and make a decision on whether or not to attend that day. I wish that were not the case. I don’t think people come on Sunday mornings just to hear me (or whoever happens to be leading worship that day). I believe people come to be there for one another.

The more generous we are with our various gifts, the richer and more rewarding our Sunday worship services will be. Rather than waiting to be asked to contribute by ‘the lady with the clipboard’ or somebody else, are you willing to offer your gifts freely?

Here are some practical ways to help:

• If you are willing to usher, light the chalice, or bring flowers, it would be incredibly helpful if you could pick a service (eg. first service on the third Sunday of the month) and volunteer regularly. We understand that life happens, and that sometimes you will be away on your ‘designated’ Sunday. However, it really cuts down on administrative time if we only are finding subs for our ‘regulars’ rather than finding new volunteers each week. If a monthly commitment is too much for you, perhaps you could make a joint commitment with another family. We will send reminders...

• If you read an interesting article, come across a book that is meaningful to you, or simply have a revelation, share it with Rev. Liz. If you’re willing, she may be able to find a time for you to share it with the wider congregation. Multiple voices and perspectives are always welcome.

• If you are a musician and would like to offer a “Gift of Music,” talk to Sonja Naylor.

• If you read a sermon ‘blurb’ and think, “Oh, I know the perfect story...poem...song...to go along with that topic...,” let the worship leader, most often Rev. Liz, know.

• Consider joining the worship committee. We are down to a very small group of dedicated volunteers. We’re looking at shifting the model so that monthly meetings aren’t required; but the responsibility for choosing topics can be a heavy one, and it is best shared broadly. Ideally, there should be a group of at least 12, and it should be diverse, representing many different ages, stages, and theological points of view.

Being there for one another, sharing our gifts, sharing our lives, this is what worship is for. If the community matters to you, I encourage you to step forward, and share your gifts with wild abandon.