Serving Together: Community, Fellowship, and Celebrations

Devotional

Day 1: Volunteering with Purpose

When signing up to volunteer, it's important to communicate your availability clearly. By listing the times you are not available, we can better organize and ensure that all time slots are covered efficiently. This approach helps us serve our community more effectively and ensures that everyone who wants to help can do so in a way that fits their schedule. [00:46]

Bible Passage:
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

Reflection:
Think about your current schedule and commitments. How can you clearly communicate your availability to serve in a way that maximizes your impact and aligns with your other responsibilities?

Day 2: Serving the Homeless

Our "Church in the Field" event on June 16th is a powerful way to live out our faith by serving those in need. By providing a church service, clothes, and food to a homeless encampment, we are not only meeting physical needs but also offering spiritual support and community. This event reminds us of the importance of compassion and generosity in our Christian walk. [00:46]

Bible Passage:
"Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" (Isaiah 58:7, ESV)

Reflection:
Consider how you can contribute to the "Church in the Field" event. What specific actions can you take to show compassion and generosity to those in need in your community?

Day 3: Men's Fellowship

The men's breakfast on June 15th is an opportunity for the men in our congregation to come together for fellowship and spiritual growth. These gatherings are essential for building strong, supportive relationships and encouraging one another in our faith journeys. It's a time to share, learn, and grow together as men of God. [01:31]

Bible Passage:
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17, ESV)

Reflection:
Reflect on the importance of fellowship in your spiritual journey. How can you actively participate in and contribute to the men's breakfast to foster deeper relationships and spiritual growth?

Day 4: Elder Fund Offering

The elder fund offering taken on Communion Sunday is a vital part of our church's mission to support those in need. By contributing to this fund, we are directly helping individuals in our community who are facing financial hardships. This act of giving reflects the heart of Christ, who calls us to care for the least among us. [01:31]

Bible Passage:
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." (Proverbs 19:17, ESV)

Reflection:
Think about how you can contribute to the elder fund offering. What sacrifices can you make to help those in financial need within your community?

Day 5: Celebrating Milestones

Acknowledging and praying for those celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations in June is a beautiful way to honor significant moments in our lives. These celebrations are not just personal achievements but also opportunities to thank God for His blessings and to seek His continued guidance and protection. It's a reminder of the importance of community and the joy of sharing our lives with one another. [01:31]

Bible Passage:
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15, ESV)

Reflection:
Identify someone in your community who is celebrating a milestone this month. How can you acknowledge their achievement and offer your support and prayers for their continued journey?

Sermon Summary

Today, we have several important announcements and events to share with you. First, we need volunteers for the fireworks booth. When signing up, please list the times you are not available to help, so we can deduce when you can assist. This is a bit different from the usual sign-up process, so please take note.

Next, on the third Sunday of June, which is the 16th and also Father's Day, we will be hosting our next "Church in the Field" event. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve our community by organizing a church service, distributing clothes, and providing food for a local homeless encampment. If you are interested in helping, please reach out to Tony Garcia for more details. Additionally, donations of blankets and practical clothing are greatly appreciated for this event.

For the men in our congregation, the men's breakfast will be held on the third Saturday of June, which is the 15th, at 8:00 a.m. This is a great time for fellowship and spiritual growth, so we encourage all men to attend.

As it is Communion Sunday, we will also be taking an elder fund offering. This special offering goes towards helping individuals in need within our community, such as those struggling with rent or needing essential items. If you would like to contribute, please use the envelope on the back of your chair and write "elder fund" on it before placing it in the box at the back of the church. If you don't see an envelope on your chair, check with someone nearby, as they might have one.

Lastly, since it is the beginning of June, we would like to take a moment to pray for everyone celebrating a birthday or anniversary this month. If you have a birthday or anniversary in June, please stand up so we can acknowledge and pray for you. Additionally, if you are graduating from high school, please stand up as well. We want to celebrate these significant milestones in your lives and ask for God's blessings upon you.

Key Takeaways

1. Volunteering with Purpose: When signing up to volunteer, it's important to communicate your availability clearly. By listing the times you are not available, we can better organize and ensure that all time slots are covered efficiently. This approach helps us serve our community more effectively and ensures that everyone who wants to help can do so in a way that fits their schedule. [00:46]
2. Serving the Homeless: Our "Church in the Field" event on June 16th is a powerful way to live out our faith by serving those in need. By providing a church service, clothes, and food to a homeless encampment, we are not only meeting physical needs but also offering spiritual support and community. This event reminds us of the importance of compassion and generosity in our Christian walk. [00:46]
3. Men's Fellowship: The men's breakfast on June 15th is an opportunity for the men in our congregation to come together for fellowship and spiritual growth. These gatherings are essential for building strong, supportive relationships and encouraging one another in our faith journeys. It's a time to share, learn, and grow together as men of God. [01:31]
4. Elder Fund Offering: The elder fund offering taken on Communion Sunday is a vital part of our church's mission to support those in need. By contributing to this fund, we are directly helping individuals in our community who are facing financial hardships. This act of giving reflects the heart of Christ, who calls us to care for the least among us. [01:31]
5. Celebrating Milestones: Acknowledging and praying for those celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations in June is a beautiful way to honor significant moments in our lives. These celebrations are not just personal achievements but also opportunities to thank God for His blessings and to seek His continued guidance and protection. It's a reminder of the importance of community and the joy of sharing our lives with one another. [01:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - Volunteer Sign-Up Instructions
[00:46] - Church in the Field Event
[01:31] - Men's Breakfast Announcement
[01:31] - Elder Fund Offering
[01:31] - Celebrating June Milestones

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV) — > "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?" The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

2. Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
> "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

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Observation Questions

What specific instructions were given for signing up to volunteer at the fireworks booth? [00:46]
What activities are planned for the "Church in the Field" event on June 16th? [00:46]
What is the purpose of the elder fund offering taken on Communion Sunday? [01:31]
How does the church plan to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations in June? [01:31]

Interpretation Questions

How does the "Church in the Field" event reflect the teachings of Matthew 25:35-40? [00:46]
In what ways does the elder fund offering align with the principle of carrying each other’s burdens as mentioned in Galatians 6:2? [01:31]
Why is it important for the men in the congregation to come together for fellowship and spiritual growth during the men's breakfast? [01:31]
How can celebrating milestones like birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations strengthen the sense of community within the church? [01:31]

Application Questions

Reflecting on Matthew 25:35-40, how can you personally contribute to the "Church in the Field" event? Are there specific items you can donate or ways you can volunteer? [00:46]
Considering Galatians 6:2, think of someone in your community who is struggling financially. How can you support them, either through the elder fund offering or other means? [01:31]
For the men in the group, what steps can you take to ensure you attend the men's breakfast on June 15th? How can you encourage other men in the congregation to join you? [01:31]
If you are celebrating a milestone in June, how can you share this joy with your church community? What are some ways you can invite others to celebrate with you? [01:31]
How can you make sure to clearly communicate your availability when signing up for volunteer opportunities in the future? What are some practical steps you can take to avoid misunderstandings? [00:46]
Think about a time when you received help from your church community. How did it impact you? How can you pay it forward by contributing to the elder fund or other church initiatives? [01:31]
What are some specific ways you can show compassion and generosity in your daily life, inspired by the "Church in the Field" event? How can you make these actions a regular part of your Christian walk? [00:46]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "Next, on the third Sunday of June, which I believe is the 16th, it's also Father's Day, that's when the next church in the field will take place. So if you'd like to come out and help with putting together a church service and clothes giveaway and some food for a homeless encampment, you can talk to Tony, Tony Garcia, about that, but that'll be on the third Sunday." [00:46](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

2. "Also, if you have donations of blankets or clothing, practical clothing, that's also helpful for that. Men. Your men's breakfast will be the third Saturday of June, which I believe is the 15th. It'll be at 8 o'clock a.m." [00:46](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "Just so you know, when you're signing up, you put your name and all that, and then you put the times that you are not available to help. So it's the opposite of what you might think. So put the times you cannot help, so then they'll just deduce the times that you can." [00:46](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

2. "And then just really quick, because it is Communion Sunday, that's the Sunday that we normally take an elder fund offering. So the elder fund offering goes towards helping people who come in and need help with something like rent or attire or something of that sort. I didn't see an elder fund offering envelope on my chair. So if you want to give, if you have a special offering for that, just get the envelope that's on the back of your chair and write elder fund and put it in the box at the back." [01:31](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

3. "Lastly, it is the beginning of June. So we would like to pray for everybody who has a birthday or an anniversary this month. So if you have a birthday, if you have a birthday in the month of June, please stand up. If you have an anniversary in the month of June, please stand up. And if you are graduating from high school, please stand up." [01:31](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

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