My youngest son, Tyler, came home from school a couple of weeks ago with a new favorite quote: “Nobody can do everything. But everybody can do something.”
Pretty deep thoughts for an 11 year old. It inspires me. And I hope it inspires you as actionchurch heads into RFL 2014 mode. Each year, our church dedicates our efforts in June almost entirely to supporting the American Cancer Society at their Relay for Life event. It is an amazing, moving, challenging, incredible, sweat making, heart wrenching, grueling, beautiful, fulfilling… (well – you get the picture)….event, that requires EVERYBODY at actionchurch pitching in to make it successful.
Tyler’s quote reminds me of someone very special in the life of actionchurch. Some of you may remember Michele Record’ father (Pastor Don’s father-in-law), Phil as the vibrant commander of the loading out process at actionchurch. He was anywhere and everywhere serving at different functions in various capacities. Unfortunately, over the years, Phil’s health began to decline. It was sad to witness, but truly inspirational in that he NEVER gave up serving. Phil was always doing SOMETHING.
I remember the year when Phil began to need a cane to walk. Some people would have given up on Relay that year. But Phil showed up at RFL and we found a job where he could sit and serve muffins in the breakfast line. Sadly, the year came when Phil needed a wheel chair just to get around. He came to his final Relay event and Phil served his time being pushed in his wheel chair as our representative on the track doing laps.
It’s a bittersweet example, but I think it is a PERFECT demonstration of – EVERYBODY doing SOMETHING! This year I want to encourage you to DO SOMETHING. If this is your first year with us, take a look at videos of “Relays Past” to get a sense of the amazing presence of God’s spirit when we all come together to serve.
Quite frankly – we need EVERYBODY. We need walkers, sitters and lifters. We need pancake flippers, dishwashers and garbage men. We need coffeemakers and prayer sayers. We need kid lovers, ice carriers and – knowing Don, probably EMT’s by the end of the event. No one job is more important than any other – we need EVERYBODY.
If you aren’t sure where you fit in or in what capacity you can serve, send us an email, or stop by the RFL table Sunday morning. I WILL help you find something to do. Remember – EVERYBODY can do SOMETHING – my personal 2014 favorite just happens to be the cookie baker!
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-6