Church, this week has been something special. I mean really special. River of Life brought together students and adults from Midway UMC, Lowell UMC, and Douglasville First UMC, and for one full week Midway was filled with sleeping bags, laughter, worship music, work clothes, tired faces, big smiles, and the Holy Spirit. Our theme verse was Ephesians 6:7, “Do your work with a smile, as unto God, not man,” and that is exactly what these students did. They did not just talk about serving God. They got up every morning and lived it.
They built wheelchair ramps. They worked on decks. They cleaned churches. They did yard work. They served neighbors. They loved God by loving the people right in front of them. Some of the work was hot. Some of it was hard. Some of it probably did not feel very glamorous. But that is the beautiful thing about mission. Most of the time, loving your neighbor looks like showing up with a willing heart and doing what needs to be done. And these students showed up. They worked with smiles. They worshiped with open hearts. They prayed. They laughed. They played games. They learned about the armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18. They ate their way through Italian Night, Down on the Farm Night, Hawaiian Luau Night, and Mexican Fiesta Night. And every single night, when the band led worship, you could feel God moving in the room. Students prayed. Faith was renewed. Hearts were opened. It was loud and messy and beautiful and holy.
This Sunday, we are going to celebrate all of it, and I do not want you to miss it. Come to church this Sunday for River of Life Sunday. Breakfast is at 9:30 AM, worship is at 11:00 AM, and potluck lunch is at 12:00 PM. Bring a dish to share and come ready to love on these students and adult volunteers. Come hear what God has done. Come celebrate three churches serving together as one body of Christ. Come give thanks for a week where our students reminded us that when we do our work with a smile, as unto God, ordinary work becomes holy work.
Grace and peace because grace always goes before peace,
Pastor Sharon