The Power of Serving with Gladness: A Church Story
It’s true—our church is a bit different. One unique aspect is that we have an active church dog who roams the sanctuary and is an expected part of our church family. But that’s not all that sets us apart. We also take a more intentional approach to how the offering is taken up during the offertory.
In most churches, men are appointed beforehand to take on the important responsibility of passing the offering plates, and in some churches, women are involved as well. In our Bible-believing, Christ-centered church, however, we do things a little differently. At our church, the children take part in the offering! Yes, the children are the ones who pass the plates.
We never know exactly which children will be present on any given Sunday, so we patiently wait for them to come forward. We invite any child who wants to help to simply come up to the front, and once the group is gathered, I assign each child to a specific aisle.
Recently, a grandmother visited our church, and the story that unfolded was a beautiful reminder of the lessons we can learn from simple acts of service. When I called the children forward to help with the offering, the grandmother quietly asked her little three-year-old granddaughter if she would like to join. The little girl agreed, but only if her grandmother would hold her hand and help her.
It was a touching sight and a wonderful lesson for me—and, hopefully, for others in the congregation. The grandmother walked forward, gently holding the little girl’s hand. After a brief prayer, they went to work together. The little girl took the offering plate and passed it to the first person in the next aisle, with her grandmother by her side.
There are several important lessons we can draw from this simple act:
No matter our age, we can all serve our Lord and His Church.
God, like the grandmother, asks us if we want to serve, but He never forces us.
When we are willing to serve, God holds our hand and leads us as we step out in service.
When we serve God and His Church, others will notice, and they will be blessed.
Psalm 100:2 (KJV) beautifully captures this sentiment: "Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing."
As we go about our daily lives, may we joyfully serve our Lord, holding His hand every step of the way.