Our pastor has been preaching a lot lately about getting more involved and engaging ourselves at church. He is stressing the importance of how we need to do more of God's work and not just go to church every Sunday and go home each week living a sinner's life.

So I thought about it:

Before we moved all over the country side I have been very involved in my church. Sunday school teacher, choir, elder, and always working the church fundraisers and dinners.

Now that we move around so much it's very hard to get involved. We're aren't there for very long and when we are, it's a process trying to find a church both dh and I are comfortable with. So because of that, I am now feeling guilty that I am not doing enough with my life.

After his sermon today I told dh that I want to get more involved. I want to "do something" with my life (as it was stressed over and over again). I can't sing, I'm good with kids, I'm not overly confident in bible teachings....so I'm left with having to think about what more I can do. I think I will call the pastor's wife tomorrow.

What do you do?

God only ask for you to do your best.....sometimes just having a smile on your face for somebody who has had a rough day is good enough for God...if you feel that you need to do more then that is good...but dont think you have to do more because your pastor says so....you do what you can do ...if your good with kids...maybe go to shelter and help a parent there ...take a load off her mind just for alittle while.....good works are not going to get us into heaven but help others out is not a bad idea either.....I will pray that God leads you in any and everything that you do in HIS name.

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CHOOSE TODAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE!!!

Not to sound defensive, but the pastor wasn't saying anything I didn't already feel. The guilt I have is how UNINVOLVED I really am. It's really by circumstance rather than personal choice that's all. I just know that after today I have to make a decision as to how I am going to plug in more and be the kind of christian I really want to be.

I am less involved right now than I have been. I decided not to teach SS this year. I still help out when asked, and will substitute as I can. Ionly can go to church every other Sunday since I work the other weekend. I figure I do the best I can, but I feel guilty too sometimes.

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~Happiness is a large family~

I do our Sunday School Class email each week with the prayer requests, announcements, etc. I also teach the 2's and 3's choir on Wed. nights. I taught and directed the whole preschool program over the summer, but with six of my own, directing AND teaching a class was just too much. I have NINETEEN 2 and 3 year olds in my choir class, so this should be a very interesting year!! Several of them don't even talk, much less sing, but we will work on it. I think learning basic Bible songs is important...caus when I am having a bad day, even at 35 years old, I still find myself singing a childhood church song!!

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I work in the church nursery every Sunday morning and also serve as a discussion group leader for my church's MOPS (Mother's of Preschooler's) group.

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Baby Boy #3 (EDD 11-9-2008)

I am not involved at all right now. I sometimes go on Sunday and i sometimes don't. My dh goes almost every Sunday. We have just started going to a new church about three months ago. I still don't know anyone that goes there and have only said a few hellos to the Pastor.

We are starting to feel we need to get more involved. Dh ran the prayer ministry at our last church so he is missing that mid week prayer. I would like to get to know some of the women and maybe join a bible study.

I'm not really interested in leading anything. I would rather just participate right now. With Riley starting Kindergarten and soccer i have my hands full already.

Christy....I think God will put it in on your heart as to what you should be doing. It will be something that you enjoy and that doesn't feel like a chore. Also don't feel guilty because you took a break. We as Christians need to know how to say NO sometimes too. Have fun figuring out how you can serve the Lord.

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Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)

Our church is large enough that there are all kinds of opportunties for involvement. I help out each year either running a committee or participating on several for our annual benefit. I'm on a few committees like meals for folks that had a death/birth or illness in their family, folks that need rides (usually elderly people) and DH heads the technology committee at the church. So I guess we're pretty involved but we really enjoy it and have a great group of friends.

That's just it. It's more than a break. I haven't done any of those things since I left home NINE YEARS AGO. I have participated in TREE Angel gift givings through the church and I have been giving our weekly tithes, but I haven't jumped in to anything organized within the church since I left home.

My pastor wasn't trying to make anyone feel guilty. I think instead, he was trying to motivate people to help out with all the programs the church has for THEM. His message was more about "doing God's work" than it was "you NEED to do this or this will happen to you". He was only saying what I had already felt which is what made me feel guilty!

I just have to plug in and do something. What it is? I don't know...but i has got to be something. Especially with the holidays coming up. So many people are in need.

Have you read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren? Great book with lots of practical advice on what God has called you to do. Warren Blackaby (can't remember the name of the study) has a Bible study and it is all about looking around and find out where God is at work, and then jump in. If you are good with kids, then maybe working in the nursery on a rotating basis. Maybe volunteer to keep the pastors kids while they have a date night on a monthly basis. I'm sure the Lord will lead you to the ministry He has for you. Maybe do a Bible study like The Purpose Driven Life to really hoan in on what your gifts are and how to go about using them. I hope this helps. Oh, also, listen to what people are saying about you, compliments, words of affirmation, sometimes God is speaking through others and that might give you cues as to what you might want to do. Maybe help with meals for the sick, or new moms. Just throwing out all the things that come to mind. God Bless:D