Serving

First time serving in the main Sunday service. I thought it would be easy. But…

• Serving while also entering into worship is not easy (rather like Martha).
• Smiling at everyone in the side hall while wondering whether “he/she” is a newcomer.
• Welcoming newcomers is not easy.

Thank the Lord that I can serve. Serving has its habits and its inertia. Habits:

• Whoever is in a post tends to stay in that post; it rarely changes.
• Whoever you are used to serving with, you naturally want to keep serving with. I was used to serving in children’s worship (I stopped several years ago, but I still miss my serving partners of many years). I was used to backstage work, carrying and lifting, the kind of serving that needs no words. I was used to serving with people of about my own age, who grew up with me and were on the same “channel”. Inertia: when I’m not serving, I rarely take the initiative to serve. *Thank the Lord for the many “first times” this year: youth fellowship committee member, usher, serving alongside people I don’t know well… …and welcoming people attending worship for the very first time (one of them cried during the service!)

I am quick to become proud in serving. Lately many people have been asking me (and Hilda) when we’ll join the music ministry…

Lord, give me strength.