Service as a Form of Prayer
Guest column: Marcia Powell
I want to talk a little bit about service as a form of prayer and how that can affect the wider community, a church, and ourselves.
When we think of prayer, it’s often about me and God, me and Jesus, me and my religious practices (beads, incense, morning prayer, etc.) As I’ve listened to others, I've heard many people tell me that they can pray at home and that church isn't necessary. Well--yes, and no. It’s true that Jesus doesn’t just hang around churches on Saturday or Sundays.
It’s true that the realization of God isn’t limited just to the moments when we are hearing the Word.
But that’s not the model Christ showed us. Jesus told us that service to others was a different type of ministry.
The tl;dr (too long; don’t read) version is that personal prayer is for you, but Jesus did that to regroup, not as his main religious practice.
Jesus did things with the wider community. He fed them and taught them alongside the shores of the seas, in natural amphitheaters, and in synagogues up and down the region north of Jerusalem. Here’s the kicker: most of the time, he didn’t know these people personally. At least from the writings in the Gospels, most of the healing was given to those outside his inner circle.
That means our wider community is a great opportunity for service. That includes people in crisis, people without money, and people who just didn’t feel accepted. Serving others is a type of public prayer. This does not have to be a big thing; there are millions of ways to do this. Baking cookies or talking to a kid while buying a candy bar as part of a fundraiser can be an act of service to others. One of our parishioners plays the piano at a nursing home monthly and another hosts music parties for their neighbors. Being part of a community organization or volunteering at the library gives you ownership in a way that is often missing from our online conversations.
Across our congregation we can see a variety of people who give of themselves. The Jubilee committee is a great example and so is just the availability of space for other organizations. We need to talk about the wider community; the research shows that the happiest people are those who are serving others beyond their immediate home address.
If we really see God present in others, listening attentively to those we struggle within our church community is also a type of service and a gift of presence. Digging, potting, and sharing live plants with the congregation is part of Randy’s service to others, but it's made better when he gets to talk to people about what those plants are and the care they need. People call Maire or Molly looking for plant advice. Joni helps to drive people to other locations. At its most basic level, coming to church is an act of service to others; they see a visible part of the community of faith that exists across the world. We could go on and on but showing up is an act that develops a stronger church community. Volunteering as a lector, a Eucharistic minister, or sharing musical talents is at its heart service oriented. Where is there an opportunity for you to develop our church community using your heart of service?
Finally, service to others can be individual, but this is hard. For some, praying from home or watching the livestream is what we can do. Perhaps we send text messages to others, or Venmo 15 bucks to a worthy cause. We pray for others who are struggling or ask how we can support another person. Usually, this is not about solving a problem, but a way to share our lived experiences with others.
The closest you will ever come to God in this life is in the face of another. That is a paraphrase of Victor Hugo and Les Misérables. It’s also the philosophy of the Imago Dei, or the idea that we are made in the Image and likeness of God. As we serve others, we honor the Creator who made them.
To what service are you being called here in the greater Muscatine area, Muscatine Trinity, and towards your neighbor? Perhaps your prayers this week can focus on the possibilities.
