Coming from St. Louis born and raised in the Lutheran church, I never realized how much I would miss the familiarity of services at home. Just the little things about the service like having Confession and Forgiveness right at the start, familiar hymns that I’ve recited to memory and the Apostle’s Creed right in order, right where I expect it to be. I felt distracted in other services, focused on the unfamiliarity rather than on the message .
That’s where Kountze Memorial Lutheran church came in. It is literally no more than 2 blocks from campus yet honest to goodness that was the one reason I discredited it. (Yes, I know that makes no sense) Overcoming the fear of going to church alone, in an unfamiliar place, I finally made the walk over and haven’t missed a Sunday since. The people of Kountze welcomed me right in, it was like home, with all the familiarities but now it was even more than that, because it was distinctly mine.
I can’t help but feel a bit guilty though when we get to another familiar part of the service, offering. As I pass the intricately detailed gold plate down the row I try to justify my lack of envelope or dollar bill in hand. I’ve always struggled with this, wishing I could donate altar flowers, provide money for the church to buy new bibles, anything, yet when it comes down to it, I’m a college kid. I have no job, and well, the people at Kountze don’t know my parents so giving away their money doesn’t seem like the right answer either.
The more I’ve thought about this the more I realize how much it so isn’t about the envelopes or George Washingtons in the plate as it goes by, but instead about taking the gifts God has given me and in turn offering them to all those I encounter. Maybe my gifts won’t buy day-lilies or an extra hymnal for the pew, but if the gifts I have been given by God bring others close to Him, I can’t see why this would be any less significant.
We are called to be disciples in Christ, giving not just what we can but what we ought. The gospel today is from Luke 5:1-11 in which Jesus calls Simon Peter to “not be afraid, from now on you will be catching people.” While the offering plate is certainly a chance to give back to the church, just in seeing it weekly is a subtle reminder that its not all about the bookoo bucks. We are called to give of our selves, using the gifts God was gracious enough to give us and offer them in service for the greater Church of Christ.
Proverbs 11:24-25, Romans 11:36
- a.e.
Amy Engle (a.e.) is currently a sophomore Digital New Media and Graphic Design double major at Creighton University. With interests in new and emerging media sources a blog seemed like the perfect way to get started. Faith has always been a central part of Amy's life. Growing up in St. Louis with her parents and four brothers church was a weekly event. Now at a Jesuit University, she has realized the importance of developing ones own personal faith and discovered the benefits of looking for God's presence in daily life. Check in for new updates every Wednesday and Sunday!
Amy,
What a truly insightful blog. I think many times we get carried away with thinking, gosh I can only give this much and I so badly want to give more financially.
You’re dead on in saying use your talents to benefit the church. Great job Amy; I think people can really take a lot from your words regardless of their religious affiliation.
AE – Just one of MANY reasons I think you are a FANTASTIC chick! You ROCK!
Melissa
Amy, you are so on target! I love reading your blog because it always kicks my butt and reminds me what my real purpose here is!