Do it. Just do it.

“But be doers of the word…doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.”  James 1:22, 25b

 

For the last month I have been teaching a Wednesday evening class “Living our Faith Monday through Saturday” as part of our “Get Fed” program.  A couple of weeks ago I challenged the class to “Sit still.  Don’t DO anything.  Be silent and still for two minutes each day…and listen for God.”

 

When the class met the following Wednesday the results were fairly predictable.  Some found not doing anything and being silent for two minutes a major challenge; others found it difficult either to just sit still and not do anything, or to clear their minds enough to truly listen for the voice of God.  And, some found it to be holy time, a blessed break from the DOING of our lives, even if only for two minutes.

 

We are brought up to be doers, especially here in Washington, D.C.  Our children and our youth have almost every minute of their day scheduled.  The average work week in America is now 47.6 hours long–almost a whole extra eight-hour work day longer than the “40-hour work week.”  In short: we should have zero problem with what James is talking about in his epistle.  His admonishment to be, “doers of the word,” should be right up our alley.

 

Yet, we have feeding ministries that are literally withering on the vine, aching for more volunteers to help feed the neediest in our community; we have a huge need for adults to help work with our children in Sunday school and lead Children’s Chapel–both at the 9:15 a.m. service and especially the 11:15 a.m. service.  Most of these ministries require not more than three or four hours per month of time commitment, and all of them help further the Kingdom of God here in this place, right now.  Indeed there are only a few ministries at St. Alban’s that wouldn’t gladly take a couple more volunteers.  Simply put, we need more “doers of the word” to sustain and even grow the ministries that nourish and enrich the lives of so many.

 

 

Want to get involved with the feeding ministries here?  Contact Marty Kerns, Jonelle Easton, or Susan Morrison.  Don’t know how to get in touch with them?  Email me and I’ll put you in touch with the appropriate person.  Want to assist in the Sunday school program or help lead Children’s Chapel?  Email me and we’ll get you plugged in to those ministries.

 

When you become a “doer of the word,” what you’ll find is that you feel great about yourself–you have given of your time and maybe of the talents God has given you–and you will have made a major difference in the lives of others in the name of Jesus.  The effects of becoming more fully a “doer of the word,” have been written about, debated, analyzed and discussed for centuries–far more in-depth than this blog format will allow.  However, I’ll sum up what happens when you become a “doer of the word,” as this: you will be living your faith more fully, and you will receive far more than you imagine in return for your service.

 

In Christ’s name,