Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department; I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.
The author of the Book of James stresses that faith and action go together. The author urges the readers of this work to make sure not to give more regard to one of those aspects of our discipleship over the other; both are vital.
On Sunday, June 26, we are going to put that into practice in a literal and real way as we gather together that morning. After a short time of song and prayer, we will break into small groups and work on a variety of community service projects. Many will happen here in our building; some will take place off site.
This is not a time to skip worship! Rather it is a time to put our worship into real practice by using our hands and feet, our gifts and skills, our time and talent to make real the love of God through our actions that morning. Some of the small group activities are:
- Knitting prayer squares
- Helping the quilting group with comforters
- Preparing personal hygiene kits for homeless shelters
- Building a Little Free Library for use on our property
- Making treats for staff and guests at the Ronald McDonald Room at St. Luke’s Hospital
- Baking cookies for the firefighters of the Hiawatha Fire Department
- Making a home visit to some of our members
There ought to be something for everyone, no matter what your gifts or skills and no matter what your physical abilities might be. Sign-up sheets will be in the entryway on June 12.
No going to be able to be here that Sunday? Well…in addition to your regular financial offering, consider making a donation to our child sponsorship program or Pilgrim Heights Retreat Center.
What a morning it will be as we busy ourselves with actions and put our faith to work for the greater community and beyond.