Pentecost - May 30, 2004
Communion / Food Bank Sunday
Volunteer Appreciation / Sunday School Recognition
by Rev. James Farrell
I would like to acknowledge the contribution of William H. Willimon to the message for today.
Today we are celebrating our
volunteers at Westminster. If it weren't for all of you there wouldn't be a
church on this corner. The act of persons embracing the spirit as they feel led
has always been and will always be the essence of the church of Jesus Christ.
Today, this Pentecost, when
we celebrate the Spirit that gives us strength, I would like also to share my
appreciation and the appreciation of the staff for every effort made by all who
offer life and strength to the church within and beyond this community of
Westminster.
In celebration of the spirit
among us I uphold the ministry of the volunteers of this church... all of the
people who have caught something of the vision of what it means to be ministers
not messiahs, workers not master builders… gift-givers in the presence of our
God. People who work from the basis of the Spirit within.
So, today, I would like to
name some of those by virtue of the contribution that is shared in the life of
this church. I will not share names because to do so runs the risk of
inadvertently missing someone’s name whose gift is very much appreciated.
So, thank you to the
choir... who gather twice a week for most of the year and whose gift on Sunday
is to God’s glory and to our edification, I also offer thanks to the voices of
the Jr. choir, and the musicians who assist our choir director with special
music.
Thank you to our Sunday
school superintendent, and teachers who put the importance of Christian
education before us as a legacy to be shared with the children of Westminster
and beyond.
The UCW (the united church
women or women of The United Church of Canada) who, for years have worked
tirelessly to support the work and mission of the church. This work is very
appreciated and your leadership is an integral part of the life and work of
Westminster United Church.
Thanks to those who sit as
trustees, on committees and on the board. You folks give many evenings of your
lives to make life a little better for folks in our community—across the globe
and right here at Westminster … thank you! If things seem to roll smoothly, it
is because of your work that we are able to say it is so.
To those who head up special
projects like suppers, brunches, educational events, theatre events, and
fund-raising endeavors for local initiatives and for mission outreach beyond our
neighbourhoods: like the consignment sale again hosted here yesterday…your
contribution is crucial to the ongoing life of the church and is very much
appreciated by everyone here and by many people we will never have the
opportunity to meet.
To those who co-ordinate
activities on an ongoing basis like organizing our program of greeters, ushers
and coffee hosts, scripture readers and Minute for Mission readers for each
Sunday morning, and, of course, all of those who willingly participate in these
programs and those who decorate and undecorate the church or set up for
communion or serve communion or coordinate the effort of finding folks to work
in the nursery or help with youth events or yard work here at the church or out
at Camp Okonoki or any other work projects within the reach of the church… to
all of you, many thanks and God bless you.
To those who share their
talents of decorating and painting corners of Westminster that become part of
the celebrated life of the church… Thank you for your creativity.
To those who share their
gift of hospitality on behalf of Westminster when we host folks
from other churches or from the community for special and shared functions. And
to everyone who makes a first-time visitor feel welcome or a long-time attendee
feel appreciated, your ministry, a ministry we all may share, is invaluable and
to be celebrated in the spirit and in concrete ways.
Thank you, too, to those who
help with the sound-system, or share in worship leadership from our youth to our
mission and outreach committee, in fact, all who lead worship on occasion
throughout the church year…and to those who help by offering to teach or work at
the church camp, and all the other commitments that people make so willingly
like helping with the office duties of counting the offering or giving your time
to answer the phone or to fold the worship bulletins that we all rely on, and to
the person who delivers our donations to the Food Bank. Thank you!
To those of you who visit on
behalf of the church and make contact with our church families through the
ministry of Commune-I-Care or co-ordinate the information gathering that is
shared through that now four year old ministry of reaching out to many people
…and to those who visit at the hospital every week, to those who visit our
shut-ins as a presence from the church, thank you.
And those who share in the
common ministry by hosting events here at the church and finding ways to bring
the larger community into our building to share our common vision of life and
wholeness for all people, to each and every one of you, I give you thanks on
behalf of this community even as I celebrate with you the work of those who plan
and lead retreats on behalf of the church.
To those who work and
partner with refugee families and take the witness of Westminster into the
greater community through that effort, thank you.
Most everyone whose task I
celebrate just now is also named in our annual report each year but I wanted
also at this time of the year when many folks slowly begin the process of
rejuvenation that provides re-creation for body mind and spirit…to you I affirm
your work and gift of the spirit of God lived through you. You make our church
tick and it is good news indeed to celebrate the importance of your collective
gifts.
Of course, I also celebrate
the contribution of all who attend Sunday by Sunday and support the mission and
outreach of Westminster United Church with your gifts and your physical presence
and your willingness to be a part of this community, thank you and please know
that you are, of course, the backbone of the work that we do as a community of
faith and as a church family.
For your kind words or
thoughtful suggestions that serve to remind me that we are all part of sharing
this gift and that together we really can make a difference as our ideas and
passions help to impassion each other and enliven our church and the ongoing
outreach of Jesus Christ. Thank you!
And to anyone who may not
feel that I have mentioned your contribution by category I offer my apology I
ask your forgiveness and your understanding as I say “thank you” for the
unspoken contribution you make to the life and work of Westminster.
As you celebrate today your
own appreciation for the gift of life through the spirit of God that empowers
and encourages us all, I hope you will find renewed energy for appreciating the
life you share with others through Jesus Christ even as through Jesus Christ you
are appreciated! Amen.