Brian reached out to me last night around 8:30, asking if I could share a stewardship moment with you today. I’ll do my best to put my thoughts into words about how and why I serve at St. Matthew’s.

My family and I have been part of St. Matthew’s for approximately six years now, and from the very first day, it has felt like family. We were greeted with warmth and welcomed into a Sunday school class, which made us feel like we belonged. The people we met that day have become our extended family over the years.

As we became more involved with the church and got to know its members, we naturally started looking for ways to serve. A pivotal moment occurred several years ago. I was sitting in one of these rooms during a Wednesday night, engrossed in a personal Bible study when someone poked their head in. They asked me if I would be interested in leading our children on Wednesday nights. This request took me by surprise because I hadn’t considered taking on such a significant commitment. Honestly, I felt quite unqualified. If you asked me to teach elementary math, I’d be on board any day, but leading a children’s Bible study on Wednesday nights felt daunting.

Despite my reservations, I agreed. I thought we could give it a try until the end of the school year, hoping that someone more suitable for the role would take over in the following school year. However, when I was asked again the next year, I found myself saying yes, and I’ve been doing so every year since.

Wednesday nights are quite a marathon, with a long workday followed by the rush to get the kids fed and up to church for their classes. Some evenings, I walk into the Wednesday night class feeling exhausted and less than my best. However, something remarkable happens as I spend time with the children during our Bible study, share our prayer requests, and get to know each other. While I aim to fill their cups with spiritual guidance, they, in turn, fill my cup with their enthusiasm and joy. By the time I leave those Wednesday night classes, I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Serving and giving to others, I’ve found, not only benefits them but also feeds our own souls and spirits.

One of the primary reasons I continue to serve in this capacity is my genuine affection for the children I work with. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of watching them grow and develop, and it’s incredibly rewarding to witness their progress.

St. Matthew’s is a remarkable community, and it offers numerous opportunities to get involved. Even if working with children isn’t your calling, there are countless other ways to contribute to the church. There are so many ministries that I’m not even aware of, and I’m sure you might find something that aligns with your passion and talents. What’s even better is that we make it accessible for everyone to serve, including our children. As mentioned earlier, even they can take part in initiatives like Rise Against Hunger.

As we find ourselves in this stewardship month, I encourage you to contemplate how you can serve our church family. Thank you for considering how you can make a meaningful contribution.