No Church Services · 3 July 2009
On August 16, 2009, several churches in the Skykomish valley will not be having services. Instead, they will be participating in the third annual Servefest. Church members from participating churches will be letting their light shine before others so that they can see and praise God (Matthew 5:16). In the words of the official website (http//:www.servefest.org), the members will be focusing “inward, outward, and upward.”
Members from the participating churches will be looking inward to evaluate their lives and what their priorities are. They will look outward to their community. And they will look upward to God for direction, guidance, and love.
Nobody can really understand the inward and upward focus of another, but the results can be seen through the outward focus – church members doing community service projects throughout the Skykomish valley. The cities of Monroe and Sultan, the Monroe School District, The Evergreen State Fairgrounds, and many other organizations will be the beneficiaries of the 84 service projects planned for Sunday, August 16, 2009.
Besides the community seeing positive outcomes of the day of service, they will see something often missing from diverse church groups around the world. Unity. The different church groups are serving the community as their one Lord commanded them to do. They are serving each other as Christ served his disciples and all the people he met.
Servefest is making an impact on the Sky Valley community like Jesus made in His community and beyond. Organizers have said, “It is amazing how people are responding to Servefest.” Emails from beneficiaries ask whether Servefest is happening again. They say things like, “I have my projects ready,” and “I can’t wait for it.” All the organizers and participants would agree with the sentiment, “We love being able to give back to our community in very real ways.”
Showing the love of Christ to people is paramount to Servefest. People serve with gladness working not only for the betterment of the communities in which they live, but for the glory of God.
While many might think that churches not having services on a Sunday in August is ludicrous or even insanity, there is a method to the madness. Jesus turned the world upside down serving His community and doing crazy things like washing His disciples’ feet. The churches participating in Servefest are trying to do the same. They are serving and changing the world in the name of Jesus.
So remember, if you plan on attending one of the participating churches August 16, 2009, be prepared to serve rather than to be served. And then join in the celebration of the day’s efforts in the evening at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.
Turn the world upside down in the name of Jesus by focusing “inward, outward, and upward.” Participate in serving at Servefest 2009.
© 2009 Michael T. Miyoshi
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