Sign Me Up
FROM THE RECTOR
Have you noticed how big the choir is? Occasionally before the pandemic, we had so many singers on a Sunday morning that, once all the spots in the chancel were filled, a few people needed to sit on the cushions at the altar rail. We have not needed those cushions in recent months, but the chancel is still full almost every week. Honestly, there have been some Sundays during the pandemic when I have worried about particularly vulnerable members of the choir who insist on showing up and singing anyway. What is it about being in the choir that pulls them here every Sunday?
Most weeks, when I walk into the sacristy before a service, I have a few moments to catch up with the acolytes and eucharistic ministers before I head around to the front of the church to greet people. In that short time, I get to hear about family trips, marriage proposals, retirement celebrations, and birth announcements. Because the members of that group of around two dozen people serve fairly frequently, I feel like I can stay connected with what is going on in their lives. I miss sharing those connections with a wider group of people who, for good reason, need to stay home, but I am grateful for chance to see those familiar faces every week.
Lately, because of a host of personal and pandemic reasons, our ushers at the 8:45 and 11:00 services have needed to swap with each other multiple times. They do a great job of reaching out to the other ushers when something comes up and volunteering to cover a service when they are needed. For years, our ushers have been a symbol of faithfulness to the congregation and to God. They always show up. Even when snow and ice limit attendance to a handful of brave parishioners, ushers are always on the door to help the faithful few worship God.
Sometimes there are more people in the choir than in the congregation. Sometimes we have more eucharistic ministers and acolytes than opportunities to serve. Sometimes we almost have more ushers to pass the offering plates than people to put money in them. Why is that? Why do the same folks keep turning up every Sunday? Do they love Jesus more than the rest of us? Are they less busy on the weekends than we are? Do they find those hard, wooden pews more comfortable than anyone else?
This is not an article about why you need to come to church. For many of us, the pandemic has permanently changed our ability to gather in large crowds and in tight spaces like St. Paul’s. Vulnerable people need to stay home. Instead, whether you can come to church or not, this is an invitation to find a ministry that draws you so deeply into the life of our congregation that you would participate week after week. If you have not felt a strong connection with the church community for a while—if you feel like our congregation is not giving you what you need—perhaps you might explore a new way that you can offer yourself to the life of our church and trust that doing so will pull you in, too.
Although coming to church is usually an opportunity to receive something—grace, blessing, communion, renewal—it is first and foremost an opportunity to give—praise, glory, thanks, worship. The sweet spot of weekly, habitual participation is where the giving and the receiving become indistinguishable. The people who volunteer in the office give so much to the life of our parish, especially our staff, but I suspect they volunteer because it feels good to share their time and talents with others. The cooks, dishwashers, and food distributers at Community Meals are essential to sustaining that ministry, but I bet most of them would tell you how essential that ministry is to sustaining their spirit. You may never see the volunteers who come and pick up the sacks of discarded paper and cardboard from the church and take it to the recycling center, but they do so not only because they love the environment but also because it is something that they can do for the sake of our church.
By the time they are in fifth grade, Elizabeth and I ask our children to find a way to serve in worship. Children can sing in the 8:45 choir before that, but, once they are in the fifth grade, they are also able to serve as an acolyte or an usher. Sure, we hope that they will develop habits of weekly worship and selfless service, but we also want our children to discover the joy of being an integral part of a community of faith. We want them to know what it means to belong to the body of Christ.
This is a great time to find a new way to get involved at St. Paul’s. Because of the pandemic, some people have needed to step away from their ministries, which has opened up new opportunities for others to serve. Some ministries have been created or reimagined during the pandemic. You may not be able to do the things you always did, but that does not mean that there is not a new ministry for you right now or that your old ministry will not be available when you are ready to come back.
I believe that every person has a ministry in our church. Every person has gifts and talents to offer to God in this place. If you do not have a ministry right now, be sure to read the newsletter each week and browse our website or social media pages. Ask someone who is already involved about their ministry and how you might join them. If you cannot find the right way to become active in the church, let me or any other member of our staff know. We need what you have to give, and, for your own spiritual sake, you need to give it, too.
Yours Faithfully,
Evan