Thank you for all you do!
It is a simple phrase, but I believe it to be an important one. Especially here in a church with paid staff and volunteers. In a church the size of Holy Spirit both are very important and necessary for the proper functioning of the church. Well, it’s necessary for any sized church really but Holy Spirit is a betweener. Spanning the gap between a Pastoral size church and a Program sized church. We are knocking on the door of a Program sized church. Which means resources are stretched, usually.
This is not a stewardship message. It does sound like one yet what I am trying to do here is say thank you. Thank you to the stressed staff and volunteers that are working hard to make things happen at Holy Spirit. Not for the sake of making things happen, but I believe for the sake of fulfilling the churches calling to invite, welcome, connect, teach, and send out people into the world in the name of Jesus. In other words, to make disciples.
In the same way Holy Spirit School is also stretched, as they too are knocking on higher enrolment rates. They also believe in the message of Christ and spend their time, talents, and treasure, to build up the world with not only informed people but also people formed in the teachings of Jesus. Regardless of their faith tradition.
These people, the whole Holy Spirit Community (Church and School), do this work because they believe in the message of the church. They believe that God has called them, employee and volunteer both, to the positions they hold. They do the work not because it is easy, and it’s not, but because at the end of the day it is fulfilling.
And fulfilling it was this last Sunday. To see the school so full of people sharing a meal, watching children sing and cheer, creating meals for hungry children together. Then witnessing people participate together in a full church service, with the school children serving alongside the church volunteers, giving thanks to God.
Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your time, talent, and treasure. It was a wonderful day.
Holy Spirit Community, thank you for all you do!
God’s Peace,
Fr. Mitch+