Where gift meets need-a morning at CCD

I was a little late getting in to the church this Wednesday morning.  As I walked up, a CityHeart client was sitting on the chair outside of the chapel waiting for 10 am when CityHeart would be receiving calls and clients.  Robert, one of our ‘regulars’ was walking out.  He saw the door open early and grabbed an opportunity for a cup of coffee and a sack lunch.  The door is open early on Wednesday because there’s an early 12-step group that meets in the parlor.  The woman waiting outside the chapel (can’t remember her name) pokes her head in and asks, “Is it 10:00 yet?” “A few more minutes,” Lori says.  “OK.”

The 12-step group is leaving and several parishioners have come in by this time.  One is working on sorting and getting stuff cleaned out upstairs for Sunday school.  Another has a trunk load of stuff for the White Elephant Sale.  Another is making preparations for a dinner where we’ll welcome an Anglican delegation from Liberia. 

The phone rings.  “Do you help with DP&L bills?”  “Let me put you on hold and get someone who can better help you,” I tell him.  Phone rings again.  “Do you help with rent?  Do you help with medicine?”  “What’s your name?” I ask and then tell her everybody’s tied up at the moment and could she please call back shortly.  Yeah, Natalie’s arrived to help answer the phones!

A little later, Millie has arrived to set up the chapel for the Wednesday healing Eucharist.  John’s looking over the calendar of saints to see who we’ll be remembering in the service.  James is walking in saying he’s going downstairs to get ready for the noon AA meeting.  Folks are starting to gather in the front courtyard, enjoying fellowship and the sunshine, before they go into their meeting downstairs.  Kris is scanning her e-mail for today’s list of people who died untimely deaths so they can be remembered during the service.  All of this going on and it’s not even noon, yet!

Someone said ministry happens when one’s gift meets another’s greatest need.  So many gifts are present in all of these folk during the day ministering to great needs.  Yes, each has their own ministry but each is also part of the greater Body of Christ.  This body called Christ Church has an incredible asset in our facility and its address at the heart of downtown.  It’s a living and breathing place filled with Spirit meeting great needs in our community. 

Come on down on Saturday, Sep 18, between 9 am and 3 pm!  Bring your gifts of time and energy, and join in some cleaning, maintenance, and sprucing up.  Jesus visits regularly.  Christ compels us to a ministry of hospitality.

–Mary Slenski