Thankful for Volunteers

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace". 1 Peter 4:10

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another". Galatians 5:13

A few years ago in an Upper Room devotional, a church volunteer in Mississippi shared how it was his responsibility to prepare his church's altar for worship, and how doing this weekly added "another layer of meaning to the worship experience". I'm certain many of us here at Eastridge are equally blessed by the volunteer work we do in the many ministries here.

In my role as office staff, I can see many of you at work in the church:

• I see you making coffee on Sunday mornings
• I see you stocking shelves in our Food Pantry
• I see you ushering on Sunday mornings
• I see you cleaning the church on spring clean-up day
• I see you assisting with funeral luncheons
• I see you providing a meal for the youth
• I see you setting up for events and providing food
• I see you singing in the church choir
• I see you helping serve communion
• I see you sending cards to church members
• I see you visiting our homebound and hospitalized church members
• I see you going above and beyond in so many ways...too many to list here!

God sees your care and concern for others and the church. You ARE the church!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for volunteers. Thank you for opportunities to serve you and others.

Donna Gustafson