Who Served Whom?

"Oh, no! We have to turn around. I left my backpack which has all the travel money at church on the ledge under the carport."  The husband sighed and manuevered the 15 passenger cruise liner into the Susquehanna Bank parking lot to reverse its course.  Fortunately we had driven only about 2 miles of our long journey to Eolia  in southeastern part of Kentucky.

Twenty-one teens, young adults and ummm... more mature adults filled two fifteen passenger vans (one Chevy, one Ford), and one car and were en route to serve a week with MCC SWAP. (Mennonite Central Committee--Sharing with Appalachian People) http://swap.mcc.org/swap/index.html For the majority of the group, this would be a new experience.  Three of the young adults plus Cliff and I had participated four years earlier.  (I think it speaks volumes that the three young men who had participated as younger teens were eager to go again!) 

-I could go into detail about the homes we repaired and work we did-- painting, laying new floor, roofing, hanging drywall, mowing, raking, hammering, and shoveling. (NO trips to the ER! YAY!)

-I could go into detail about the schedule we kept, rising early, packing our lunches, eating a wonderful breakfast prepared by the staff, devotions, lessons, etc. etc.

-I could go into detail about our living quarters where the 6 of us females each had 3 beds from which to choose, and the 15 guys were packed in like sticks in a book of matches.

-But the primary impact for our group was in the people we met.  From the SWAP staff and their children to the homeowners and their extended families, to the people at the Eolia Community Baptist  Church who prepared a feast for us to the friendly woman at the Isom frozen custard window who wrote down and called out each name as our desserts were prepared, to the park ranger at Carr Creek State Park who allowed us an extra 30 minutes to swim to the guy who carried our groceries to our van (yes, you read that right), the people were warm, friendly, welcoming, hospitable, and open to sharing their hearts and lives with us. 

We went to serve, but we came away wondering "who ministered to whom?"

PS-- Beware of doppelganger white vans! They may lead you astray!

This Sunday at 10:15 the senior high youth will conduct the service with the message time being a synopsis of our time with MCC SWAP.  Micah 6:6-8 says
⁶ ‘With what shall I come before the Lord,
   and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings,
   with calves a year old?
⁷ Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
   with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
   the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’
⁸ He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God?

Is this not truly daily worship?

Last week it was wonderful to see Kevin and Rachel's sweet little Lillian Grace at church!

Etta will be joining the young adults in the Upper Room at 9am this week.  Those of you who went along to KY please meet in the senior high room at 8am to prepare for the worship service.

Brother Mick is taking a well-deserved holiday so will be out of the office next week.

Many from Ridgeview have serious health concerns. Please be in prayer for those people listed in the prayer corner of the bulletin.  

A prayer for today: Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.  O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among people find refuge in the shadow of your wings.  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. 
     In our humanness we often make choices leading to brokenness and sin. Come Kingdom of God.

In our selfishness and distrust, we often hurt others because we don’t truly trust you. Come Kingdom of God. As we reach out and grasp human power, we often oppress and abuse our neighbors. Come Kingdom of God. In our fear, we often strike out with violence and aggression to our sisters and brothers. Come Kingdom of God. We confess our pain, our fear, our mistrust, our misguidedness, our brokenness—O Lord, cover us with your mercy and grace, for we are sinners!  Come Kingdom of God! As your mercy and grace fill us, let us pour out your healing and hope to a world aching for Good News!  Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name. AMEN. 

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!

Love and Light,

Carol

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference!  Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend. "  jd