Since the fall, a group of some of my closest friends in
Eugene and I have been meeting several times a month for a bible study. This
particular group is unlike any bible study I have ever been part of however. From
its inception, a very specific framework was decided upon.
Because
many of us were very busy, we agreed to meet only three Wednesdays a month.
Because
some of us didn’t always like the passive tradition of a ‘gather around the
Bible and discuss’ format, we decided that twice a month we would try to
organize opportunities to serve throughout our community in tangible ways. Once a month we would share a meal and
discuss an attribute of God and how we could better project that attribute to
the world around us.
So far, we have sought out and executed some very rewarding
and fun service projects! Here is a brief rundown of where we have shown up
around town so far……
- We spent two weeks at the home of an elderly couple from our church. We brought them a home cooked meal and kept them company while cleaning, hanging shelves, repairing a bathroom fan, patching a plaster spot in the wall, organizing cupboards, and sorting quilting fabric.
- We cooked meals and shopped for two families in need of food in our community.
- We helped deep clean an after school organization that supports homeless and less fortunate children.
- We visited a senior who needed company.
- We cleaned up the shop of a recycle and resale business.
- We helped repackage and sort food at our local food bank
Even though the age demographic of the group is fairly
narrow, I feel very spiritually immature in this company and I have learned a
tremendous amount already. Faith and Jesus Christ is very important to many of
them and many of them have been read and researched much more about these
topics than I have. I greatly admire them not only for their wisdom but even
more for how committed they all are to living out their faith in life. I feel
so lucky to be able to listen and contribute in these discussions and to gain
insight into their perspectives on the themes we talk about. On the bible study
weeks, we have had lively and in depth conversations on the following
attributes of God….
- All powerful (omnipotence)
- Never-changing (immutability)
- Loving
- Sovereignty
- All- knowing (omniscience)
After our very first project, our church got wind of what we
were doing and summed up our mission in a generous article….. http://fbceugene.com/stories/eleven-blessings/
Thanks to this family, I guess we are now known as the “Blessings
Eleven!”
