January 2016 Jottings...

Sometimes the pearls of wisdom that we share with one another and live by are at odds with one another. For example, maybe you have said: “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” But then we have the opposite aphorism: “Many hands make light work.” Maybe the cooks one would be appropriate in a discussion about authority but for Christian life in general I think the “Many hands make light work” one is more biblical.

I think that is part of what Paul is getting at when he discusses spiritual gifts in his letter to the Corinthians. He uses the analogy of the body and that although one part of the body may be more prominent than another they are equal in importance. We see this at Cole in our worship. Some folks prepare the music CDs we use and others work in the soundbooth. Others practice singing the music on Wednesday nights and are in the choir Sunday morning. When we have communion folks from the altar guild prepare the elements and clean up afterwards. Ushers hand out bulletins and take up the offering and there are always folks who stay long after everyone else is gone to make sure the offering is counted and deposited.

This is just one example of all that happens at Cole week in and week out and I as your pastor want to say thank you. It is not easy to keep up with everything in a smaller congregation and one that is older but Cole is getting it done. And as we grow we will invite any folks who join us to find their place in service to the body and outreach to the community. Not only will that make the work light because of the many hands but we will be serving the kingdom and using our gifts as God intended.