Smoky
Mountain Reflections #164
Do these phrases
sound familiar to you? “90% of the work is done by 10% of the people.” Or,
“Nobody wants to do anything around here; it seems impossible to get people to
volunteer to do anything.” You may have been in places in your life where
things seemed that way to you, and you may even think that this might apply to
our church family here sometimes. However, I think it is more true that this is
a result of so many people doing so many little unseen things that we do not even realize how much everybody is in fact doing, not to mention some
famous guy about 500 years ago who said something about “putting the best
construction on things” or “explaining them in the kindest way” when speaking
of our neighbors. Re-read the opening
statements (in quotes) and see if they seem like the ‘best construction’ to
you.
As your pastor, I
have a unique view of this congregation because it is my vocation to know and
be pastor to all of you. I know the names of all our members (although it may
have taken me a while to learn one or two) and have had one-on-one
conversations with all of you. I also know most of what gets done around here
and most of the people who do it. Consequently, I would like to take this
opportunity to brag on the congregation of people for whom I am blessed to be
shepherd. As I pondered this, it occurred to me that over half of our
congregation is actively involved in some sort of activity that makes Saint
Paul Lutheran Church the bright beacon of Gospel truth that it is in our
community. I have on more that one
occasion had perfect strangers complement me regarding the good that our church
does for Christ in this community. I
have in the past bragged about all the ministries and services we support, and
also about the diverse geographical and cultural heritage that make up our
church family. But what I have not
bragged about in a long time is all the hard work that so many people do to
make this church such a lively bunch of servants for Christ.
Now, our Lord
speaks against bragging in a conceited way, but I think it is fitting to humbly
recognize the many and varied efforts the members of our congregation make on
behalf of Christ’s church. Most of the work people do here is to the glory of
God and not for themselves, but how can a person say thank you for a job well
done if they do not know who did it? Also, God tells us in His word to
encourage one another. The list that
follows is given so that you can thank each other for a job well done. This list is mostly alphabetical, and it is important
to note that it is also brief and incomplete. Many are not on the list, but
that does not mean they are not doing their part; quite to the contrary, some
have served God’s church for decades and are in a different season of their
life now. Others are new to the church and are still discovering what it is God
would have them do. Still others are praying for and providing resources for
God’s work. And my final caveat: your
human pastor probably has forgotten the great job you did for God’s church because
so many are doing so much, and some of you do so much that I only listed a few
things for each of you. So here goes…
Donna
Allen: recording engineer, Lavonne Berry: Women’s Care Center volunteer, LWML
treasurer, Keith Brandt: Webmaster, Susie Brandt: choir, Robin & June
Brown: greeters and choir, Nelson Calfee: Elder, Laura Calfee: Youth volunteer,
Tucker Calfee: Acolyte, Gwen Cody: church secretary, Roger & Myrna Dance:
Food Bank volunteers, Pastor Dettmer: Worship & Elder, Pat Dettmer: LWML
President, Nancy Donaldson: Altar Guild, Norman Edelman: Trustee assistant, Ann
Edelman: Acolyte, Gerald Frank: greeter & usher, Sue Frank: greeter &
historian (scrapbooks), Joni & Billie Joe Geszvain: bulletin board & sign
coordinators, Bob Hansen: choir, Keith Jenkins: Elder & adult Sunday School
teacher, Dana Jenkins: Financial secretary, treasurer & Sunday School teacher,
Clare Jenkins: Acolyte, Dean Johnson: usher, Jerry Johnson: Head Elder, Judy
Johnson: Stewardship, Marc Johnson: Elder & usher, Chris Johnson: usher,
Barbara Jones: Education & organist, Mary Ellen Kasten: Fellowship assistant,
Rod Kuzynski: President, Jean Kuzynski: Choir, Elisabeth Leiser: Trinity Hope volunteer
& choir, Bruce Lerche: Evangelism, Tom Malinowski: usher, Bill Matthies:
choir, Dick Medley: Food Bank volunteer, Gary McCaffity: VP & choir director,
Jan McCaffity: Newsletter & ICU Coordinator, Bob McMahan: grounds clean up,
Carl Parsons: Elder, Mike Prall, Trustee assistant, Jay Purkhiser: usher, Beth
Purkhiser: Fellowship assistant, Gerda Portier: Thrivent treasurer, Sunday
School teacher, Chris Ramsey: Elder, Penny Ramsey: Sunday School teacher & paper
calendar, David Roberts: head usher & Elder, Debra Roberts: Alter Guild,
Dave Reptik: Trustee, Debbie Reptik: Youth, Trish Rupholdt: Alter Guild,
Veronica Sawyer: Prayer Chain, Mandy Smith: choir and fellowship assistant, Betty Stover: Alter Guild & Prayer Chain Captain,
Tony Stover: Trustee assistant, Riley Spencer: Acolyte, Bill Sproat: Elder,
Angela Sproat: Fellowship chair, Josh & Jenni Swiger: ICU delivery, Steve
& Shelly Turner: lawn care & landscaping, Lois Vicknair: organist, Joanie
Wagner: Altar Guild, Cheri Wales: choir, Eva Walker: Altar Guild. That is a lot
of people doing a lot of good work for God.
Now find someone you did not know was doing something for the church and
thank them. Thanksgiving is just around the corner!
In Christ,
Pastor Portier
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