“What more can we be doing?” is a question Leslie Price, senior pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in San Antonio, asked in anticipation of the 2013 “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. “We take seriously Christ’s call to action to serve those in need and work for justice always,” she says.
Leslie’s question, “What more can we be doing?” is being asked among many ELCA congregations, as they are encouraged to join together once again Sept. 7, 2014, for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday — a day of service, using our hands to do God’s work and make a difference. Just ask ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, who says that ELCA members are constantly being “called to make the world a better place.”
“‘God’s work. Our hands.’ Sunday reminds us that we are church together for the sake of the world. Our lives have been changed by our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and it’s that encounter with Jesus that frees us to make a difference,” she said.
“When one congregation or a group of congregations gather for service in their local communities, they are the church in that place, taking care of that part of God’s vineyard. But this is all work that we do together. When one congregation works to feed people who are hungry, that is also the entire church coming together,” Eaton says.
As part of the first “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday in 2013, Leslie, along with members of Christ Lutheran Church, volunteered at a local food bank, visited nursing homes to share music, cleaned up parks and more.
“As a local community of faith, we are constantly challenging ourselves to do more hands-on service in the community,” says Leslie. “We never settle in and say, ‘It’s enough.’ Instead we strive to say, ‘What more can we be doing?’”
To make the most of “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, start your planning early. Visit www.ELCA.org later in March to download a toolkit that will walk you through planning your day from start to finish. The toolkit includes ideas for service projects, discussion questions, a checklist and tips for how to publicize your congregation’s activities with your local news media.
“As you participate Sept. 7, 2014, in the dedicated day of service,” says Eaton, “may you witness the love of God, who knows and loves each one of us.”
