Thanks to everyone who stayed after worship last Sunday, and who signed up to serve others through the opportunities that were presented that day. It was actually a much bigger response than anyone expected. Which is really wonderful. The sense of eagerness—even urgency—to become involved was very, very encouraging to witness.

It’s still possible, of course, to take part, even if you weren’t there. The three opportunities presented were feeding hungry people in People’s Park (and giving them clean socks); visiting lonely—and often abandoned—seniors over at the Ashby Care Center; and being helpers for the mothers, children, and staff at Elizabeth House, a home and refuge for single mothers. Frank, Molly and Austin, respectively, are the ones to talk with.

There’s some creative ambiguity in Romans 12:1, which talks about our response to God’s goodness to us: “I beseech you therefore brothers and sisters that you present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” That last word—service—translates “leitourgia”, from which we get our English word “liturgy”. It’s a word that usually denotes worship, what we do when we come together Sunday morning. But it’s clear that the Bible sees leitourgia also as service, especially to people in need. That’s what this is all about: reaching out to others, but also reaching up to the Lord.