GOOD HOPE PARISH

Pastor's Ink

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""Support, Curiosity, and Service""

 

     Clarence was a farm neighbor of ours when I was growing up. While he typically minded his own affairs and was not seen as much in the community, he did have a curiosity about various school activities. One of these was the Speech Team at Westbrook high school.

    There were only three people in my class who were on the speech team: Christian, Ole, and myself. One Saturday, for the Fulda Speech Competition, Christian had to stay home to help his dad with a farm project, and Ole came down with the hives as this would have been his first speaking competition and he was nervous. This competition was just for 9th graders, and I was well and ready to compete. Mrs.Weicks, our speech coach, could not go to the meet as well. But then I got a phone

call from her.  "Chad, your neighbors, Clarence and Lenora, are willing to take you to Fulda for the competition."  I was a bit surprised but certainly happy they could take me.  I enjoyed the event, brought home a ribbon for my placing, and thanked Clarence and Lenora for spending the day with me, their 9th grade neighbor. [Their service meant leaving Westbrook at 8am and returning by 4pm, so the event took

up their day.]

     Along with worship, prayer, study, hospitality, encouragement, and giving as "Marks of the Church," the 7th mark is service. 1 Peter 4:10 states "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has

received."  Clarence and Lenora grasped the essence of this passage on service. They did not need to give up their day for me, but they did. And on one Saturday in February, I was the grateful beneficiary of their service and witness to being good neighbors.

     May Christ work in and through you as you serve--even in small ways--for meaning is not lost in it regardless of how big or small our serving is. 

 

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Pastor Chad

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