"Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

~Luke 10:36-37

Our Friends and Neighbors

This winter at family camp, during one of the devotionals, we were treated to a live reenactment of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It was fun to watch a group of kids enthusiastically portray every part of the story, and I was grateful to Lynn Barton for coming up with such a creative worship experience for all of us gathered together at camp. 

Family camp has been such a meaningful tradition for our family, something that happens away from the church building, outside the sanctuary, but a place that has deeply fostered our connection to this community. We first started going when our kids were little, and now that they're older, I'm grateful we have these traditions to enjoy together.

Over the years I've served in a variety of roles at Saint John’s, from our Strategic Planning Committee, to Church Council, Finance, and Trustees. I currently have the privilege of serving as Chair of our Staff Parish Relations Committee. In every role and every committee, I've come away with a fuller picture of how Saint John's operates and the role our staff plays in keeping us moving toward our mission.

Y’all, there is a lot here. Every week and every season, from worship services to faith development groups, the music we enjoy, the facilities that house everything, the mission work we do out in the world, the financial stewardship we maintain: behind all of it is our dedicated and loving staff.

When I think back on the Good Samaritan, I'm always struck by the detail that a priest is one of the people who passed by without helping. In a small group discussion here at Saint John's, I remember hearing that the man who had been attacked may have been considered unclean, and that stopping to help might have made the priest unclean as well. Perhaps that’s why the priest passed him by.

I'm so grateful that we have a staff who always stops to help. They give so generously of their time and work with such dedication for our congregation, our community, and our neighbors. This month we have our annual Staff Appreciation love offering, a chance for all of us to contribute something as a gesture of our appreciation. It's a small token, but I'm grateful for the chance to give back to the staff who have given so much to us. I hope you'll join me.

Tags: staff love offering