Every Member Canvas Drive

Sharing of Time and Skills

“Do your little bit of good where you are. It’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Love is a verb. Not simply a feeling or thought. Grounded in God’s love for us, we are called to act, to love. 1 John 4:11 puts it this way, “Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.” We take seemingly small actions to live out God’s love. Here’s the beautiful thing: together in community, we can change the world.

In 2019, Magnolia United Church of Christ in Seattle, WA, held its inaugural Community in Action Sunday. Determining that ‘church in action’ was a key to their vitality, instead of holding church worship as on a typical Sunday, they were love in action. Participating in five diverse service projects, the congregants restored habitat at a local park, made blankets for children, helped at their local animal shelter, tended an elder garden at the Native American cultural center, and cleaned up and cleared brush at a homeless encampment.

While average worship attendance runs about 50, that Sunday, over 250 people took part. After participating in their service projects, the congregants gathered. The Reverend Marci Scott -Weis, Magnolia UCC minister, commented on her service: “It was messy, chaotic, oozing in vitality and a whole lot of fun to be the church that morning.” She continued, “one girl said to me, ‘That was so much fun, can we do church every week like this?” With such positive responses, Magnolia UCC held its second annual Community in 2020. “It was such an amazing morning seeing folks from our congregation and our community join together to help our neighbors,” Scott-Weis said. “It was fun, crazy busy, church at its best.”

How can you put your love into action? Who would want to join you in that work? How can you have fun doing it? Love is a verb indeed. Our church can be God’s love through our serving and giving. Can you pledge to take part and live God’s love?

Thank you so much to those who have sent their pledges for 2021. We are deeply grateful. If you have not, please do so as soon as possible. If you’re not entirely sure what your level of giving for next year can be, give us a good estimate. Mahalo!