Serving at Services

Miss Rosenberg prepares snacks and drinks. Mr. Flesher gives a sermonette. Mr. Peterson is in charge of the audio equipment and makes sure everything runs smoothly.

What can you do?

All of us must learn how to pitch in. The first step is to find a task. If you sit around idly, eventually someone will ask you to do something. If this has not happened yet, or does not happen much, this is an opportunity to grow! You can show your willingness and desire to serve, and your appreciation for others’ service, by offering your own. Ask your minister or local host if there is anything you can do to help.

Always be prepared to serve. Keep your eyes open for opportunities. If you know a task is difficult for others, offer assistance. For example, if a mother of three is loaded with babies, bags and Bibles—as well as an item for the potluck—make sure you jump in to help. Open the door for her and carry some of the items.

The same approach can be applied to many other situations. Could you help put things away? Clean up? Tape down cords for the sound system? Are you able to help cook a dish for the meal? Bring drinks? Set up tables?

Make certain to ask before taking care of these duties. Every congregation has designated people for each of these tasks and you do not want to get in the way. Usually, however, they will be happy for your help!

But there are many other ways to assist: If you see someone engaged in a good conversation but still holding used dishes, offer to take them. On a rainy day, bring an extra umbrella and offer shelter to anyone who might have forgotten one. Jump in to take out the trash. Or if you see a need with setting up for the potluck, be there to help.

Always remember, your word is your bond. When you say you are going to do something, do it! Realize that if someone is expecting you to help and you fail to do so, you might actually make things more difficult for the person than if you had simply left him to take care of things on his own.

In Philippians 2, the apostle Paul states this about serving each other, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (vs. 4).

This important principle means to constantly be looking “on the things of others” for ways to assist. Take time to help others individually with different obstacles they face. If you know a parent (often a mother) who is unable to fellowship because she is caring for her children, let her know you will gladly watch the youngsters for a while so that she can better enjoy a conversation.

If you are an older teenager and know someone does not have a car, offer to drive him or her. For some, traveling to services every week is difficult and you can help ease their burdens.

Philippians 2 also reveals that helping those in the Church is a crucial part of living God’s Way. Read carefully: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (vs. 5-7).

Regularly remind yourself of Christ’s example. He is God, yet He still “took upon Him the form of a servant.”

With this in mind, let’s serve at services!