Who and when shall they serve? David is busy organizing the sons of Aaron for service. He sets up the various divisions.
We don't have divisions at Zion. We have committees. We have found that committees sometimes can actually hinder growth. They can hinder service to God as they tend to be closed - that is - only a few people are contributing ideas - energy - etc. So in an attempt to avail ourselves of more gifts of God, our committees, at Zion, have become intentionally open. Everyone is welcome in service to God. One does not even have to be a "voting member" to serve on a committee and if you have something you'd like to do that isn't covered by a committee, if you run the idea through me or the council, it usually doesn't take much to get approval, especially if you're going to volunteer to see it through.
If one has a gift, we hope and pray that they will use that gift for the glory of God, to assist in our service to Him and to all His people. We try to use every gift of every member of the "priesthood of believers" here in this place to aid in bringing the good news of the Kingdom to all people.
Committees also come and go at Zion, according to the needs as well as the gifts of the people. If someone has something to offer, we try very hard to find a way for them to use their gift. For the summer months this year, I have been asking our children to help me with the prayers of the church. For those who show up early enough to read through them and want to, they are given prayer petitions to pray during the prayers of the church. They join me, kneeling at the altar, as we lead the congregation in confessing our faith with the Apostle's Creed, followed by the prayers of the church. Some of them also offer to receive the offering. Their request to serve is allowed.
All of God's children are encouraged to use their time, talents, gifts in service to God and to one another. We're not real organized about it. We just kind of follow the lead of the Spirit and allow and even encourage spontaneity and change.
We don't have divisions at Zion. We have committees. We have found that committees sometimes can actually hinder growth. They can hinder service to God as they tend to be closed - that is - only a few people are contributing ideas - energy - etc. So in an attempt to avail ourselves of more gifts of God, our committees, at Zion, have become intentionally open. Everyone is welcome in service to God. One does not even have to be a "voting member" to serve on a committee and if you have something you'd like to do that isn't covered by a committee, if you run the idea through me or the council, it usually doesn't take much to get approval, especially if you're going to volunteer to see it through.
If one has a gift, we hope and pray that they will use that gift for the glory of God, to assist in our service to Him and to all His people. We try to use every gift of every member of the "priesthood of believers" here in this place to aid in bringing the good news of the Kingdom to all people.
Committees also come and go at Zion, according to the needs as well as the gifts of the people. If someone has something to offer, we try very hard to find a way for them to use their gift. For the summer months this year, I have been asking our children to help me with the prayers of the church. For those who show up early enough to read through them and want to, they are given prayer petitions to pray during the prayers of the church. They join me, kneeling at the altar, as we lead the congregation in confessing our faith with the Apostle's Creed, followed by the prayers of the church. Some of them also offer to receive the offering. Their request to serve is allowed.
All of God's children are encouraged to use their time, talents, gifts in service to God and to one another. We're not real organized about it. We just kind of follow the lead of the Spirit and allow and even encourage spontaneity and change.
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