All needed, or polyfilla. [Lk 12]

Today we had a sermon by one of my colleagues. Well, not a sermon, but a vision. And it related to an old idea we lose often.

We are all priests: we are all God’s servants, and none of us is without a role. From the people who get up very early on cold winter mornings to open up the hall where we worship, get the food, rehearse the music, or bring the food on and off the tables, we are all needed.

In the middle of the service a toddler went to the table for food. His mother gave him something healthy. He did not want it. After tears and rage, ten minutes later he sneaked back to the table to grab something he wanted… by trying to grab a plate. Three men stood up and ensured that kid was safe.

Because we self organize.

Yes there is a hierarchy but it is not one of power. It is one of accountability.

	The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

	The LORD bless you and keep you;
	the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
	the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
	
	
		“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

(Numbers 6:22-27 ESV)

	Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

(Luke 12:41-48 ESV)

The context of this is… that the current minister has been told he must use up his owed annual leave [1] so is going to do a video project: his other job is as a wedding and conference photographer. The Pro Photographer and I agree that the six weeks he has allowed for field work is not long enough. So we will be without a pastor.

And the elders decided that we will not bring in a reliever. We will do what is needed. If no one can do it, it will not be done. We will grow our ministries, or we ourselves are not needed.

And if much has been given to us, then much will be required.

There are many needs among us. Each of us is good at certain things: at certain times or seasons of our lives we can do this, or that. It is cruel and demanding, for instance, to require or request that a young couple who are raising kids while needing three jobs to pay the mortgage and eat must tithe and volunteer: they need support: meals, help with the kids, and time out [2]. Those of us who are older may be able to do things that need experience, while younger backs do more physical things.

We need all ages and all types of people. We need to be have a sober assessment of what we can do. So I gave a message to the elders. If they have gaps, treat me as polyfilla.