Change the World
CHANGE THE WORLD WEEKEND:
A HUGE BLESSING FOR MANY!
On Saturday April 24th six local United Methodist churches: Ashley, Bannister, Greenbush, Salem, Lowe and Maple Rapids gathered to Change the World. The weekend was part of a movement called RETHINK CHURCH, which is designed to remind those inside and outside of faith communities that church is not just a place we go, but it is something we do. Created by the Methodist Church this movement offers a different doorway to spirituality, from global initiatives to local mission work which is exactly what the above six churches were involved in on Saturday April 24th.
Area residents were blessed with many gifts of service. From washing windows to painting and power washing homes, the hands and feet of Jesus were represented in the efforts of approximately sixty workers on this one day! Every church had missionaries busy doing for their neighbors that day! Projects from Perrinton to Elsie and from St. Johns to Bannister found many people showing that church happens when we do for one another.
The Ashley, Bannister and Greenbush congregation are blessed with the leadership of Pastor Jon Pohl. Kathy Leydorf is the pastor for Lowe, Maple Rapids and Salem congregations. They worked together to facilitate the weekend of work which culminated in worship on Sunday morning April 25th at Uncle Johns Cider Mill. There was a tent and it was filled to the edges that day!! Approximately 125 people gathered for worship. We had two choirs: Maple Rapids and Lowe both shared their gift of song. We also had a praise band from the Greenville United Methodist Church. It was an awesome day of worship and communion.
Following worship, a FREE hog roast was provided, accompanied by loads of lovely food provided by all who came. It was a windy, cool day, but the Spirit of God was very present. We celebrated the fact that we can share Christ with anyone, anywhere, and at anytime, and thats a beautiful gift and opportunity God gives each of us.
Did we change the world in its entirety? Probably not. What we did do though was to change the world of someone we helped that day. We let them see how much they are valued and loved, not only by us and the work of our hands, but through us that day. Others saw Jesus, and thats the most important gift of these two days!
To all the people who assisted with chair and tables and food and supplies and sweat equity: THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!! To those who prayed for us in the midst of threatening forecasts of rain, THANK YOU - your prayers were answered that day; the rain held off.
It is such a privilege for us as pastors to see what can happen when you RETHINK CHURCH. Pastor Jon and I are blessed to serve among so many talented, compassionate missionaries in our congregations! Thank you for your support of this weekend where we DID change someones world . . . perhaps it was your small corner, and if so thank you for allowing us the privilege of making a difference!
THANK YOU ALSO TO BECK'S CIDER MILL for allowing us the privilege of using their location for this worship time on Sunday! We appreciate their willingness to support local ministry and mission God Bless you!
Pastor Kathy Leydorf