Saturday, July 11, 2020
The Rev. Rob Stevens
Serve
I’m so grateful that we proclaim and live a gospel that is about worshipping a God encourages us to serve so that we may experience the joy of living. For me, especially during these strange times, this is such good news.
Serving others…it’s at the heart of Christianity. It’s the action. One of my favorite bumpers stickers of all time is one that my daughter shared with me. It said simply “Faith: Verb”
The action of our faith is service. Service to God and our neighbor. The African Proverb that Anne shared with us says it well, “When you pray…move your feet!” Service is the moving of our feet.
We have heard (or read) a lot about service this week. It’s been wonderfully varied, from Changing the World by loving your family to the work of the Behavioral Health Unit at Portsmouth Hospital to Service as a Sacrament to serving those who are oppressed. Service is the action of our life.
The paradox of the Gospel for me is at its zenith when it comes to service. We often think (or at least I do) that when we serve, we are helping others and we are, but its more than that. We are wired for service. I’ve told this story before...but what else is new! When I was teenager, I could be grumpy every once in a while. (shocking I know) When I would get that way inevitably my mother would say “Robby, you need to do something for someone else.” I would stomp away and then somehow; I would find myself in a situation where I was on the giving side and I would “miraculously” feel better. Yes, moms are often right, and it’s not miracle that I felt more myself. It’s just the way God put us together. Serving others is (I believe) part of our humanness. When we serve another something within our souls says, “YES!”
Often service is characterized as a “have-to” the same way church is. That is a shame and I simply don’t agree. Service, like church, is a “get-to.” Service is joy producing. In the Gospel of John 10:10 Jesus says, “I came that you might have life, and life abundantly.” Service leads to that abundant life. I’m so grateful that we proclaim and live a gospel that is about worshipping a God encourages us to serve so that we may experience the joy of living. For me, especially during these strange times, this is such good news.
I end with a prayer that reminds me that the gift of service gives “perfect freedom.” I pray you find ways to serve this day that leads to joy.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know
you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend
us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that
we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of
any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.