“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; … To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Cor. 12).

The body of Christ, in case you are wondering, is the church – all those who live as believers in Jesus Christ. And – as Paul points out on a number of different occasions – the body simply doesn’t function without the contribution of all of the members. The same is true of congregations.

In fact, there are so many different things that are done by volunteers in our midst that I wanted to at least attempt to list all of the ways in which people offer their time and talents here at St. Luke’s Zion and beyond. So – here’s the list I came up with:
Teach Sunday school
Cut the grass
Count, record & deposit the offering
Serve as an usher
Set up for Communion
Clean up after Communion
Make coffee for after worship
Bring baking / cookies / coffee
Bring a friend
Clean up after coffee
Sing in the choir
Play a musical instrument for worship
Clean up basement floods
Repairs and/or clean-up
Work at the food bank
Visit the sick & shut-ins
Serve on council
Serve Communion
Organize fellowship events
Schedule the worship assistants
Act in a drama
Serve as lector / reader
Change the church sign
Purchase supplies
Serve as financial secretary
Edit the newsletter
Oversee a special project
Serve as Sunday school superintendent
Lead a group
Decorate / un-decorate the sanctuary
Operate the LCD projector
Serve as a youth leader
Serve as treasurer
Organize a fundraiser
Offer rides to others
Bake Communion bread
Send out cards
Pray
Lending expertise in …
Give time & talents at LUM / NEST / Personal Care Home / prison / hospital / …

Even with such a long list, I’m sure there are things that I have missed (not on purpose, of course!). To all of you who offer your time and talents in these ways, I thank you. We would not have a congregation without you!

At the same time, I invite all of you to ponder this list and see what God might be leading you to do at the present time. Each and every one of you has been given gifts for ministry. The only question is how and where you will use those gifts. Think about what you might do, and contact me to find out more about any of these opportunities for service.

I thank God for the many hours of dedicated service that so many of you give. May God continue to bless you and to empower you through the Holy Spirit as we continue in ministry together.

In Christ,

Pastor Lynne Hutchison