I pulled out of the church parking lot last night at 9:43pm after meeting with our Creative Arts team. Our mid-week service had ended and people spoke about going out to eat. At this point, I had been at work for over 14 hours and I couldn’t stand the thought of being in my heels for another second.
I said goodbye, dragged myself to my car in the back parking lot, and that’s when I saw him. The sweet, burly parking lot/usher I see every Wednesday who probably doesn’t know my name but smiles as his hello. He was waiting for me to leave the parking lot so he could finally lock up the gate. And that’s when it hit me. When do our church volunteers ever hear how grateful we are for them? Do they know they are loved, appreciated, and valued?
To: Unpaid Ministry Servants
From: Paid Church Staff
Date: February 3, 2011
Subject: This THANK YOU note is long overdue…Dear Church Volunteers,
Many early mornings and many late nights have passed without a proper thank you. I may not go to your church or participate in the ministry in which you serve, but you’re very appreciated, highly valued, and much needed.
Thank you for setting up the parking cones in an empty lot before the Sunday sun rises. Thank you for cleaning the restrooms and throwing away trash in the children’s classrooms. Thank you for working a 40-hour work week and giving your free time to help us serve those who are lost. Thank you for being willing to hold a stranger’s weepy child during service so they can enjoy listening to the Word of God. Thank you for the hours you spent creating curriculum for the child who insists on coloring it and creating a paper plane. Thank you for standing at the door of the sanctuary simply to smile and welcome people in. Thank you for standing in front of our congregation week after week to lead us into worship of yet again, another Chris Tomlin or Hillsong set.
But most of all, thank YOU for believing in the Church. As a representative of the paid church staff, I’ll admit we sometimes fail to acknowledge that we can’t do what we want to do without YOU. You are an integral part to our effecacy in the community. When mailings don’t matter and formal church invites fail, YOU are the ones who represent who we are and share the love of Christ in a way we’d never be able to; around a coffee table, at the mailbox, or at the gym. Thank YOU for being part of the Church family.
We may not have ministry figured out and I’m sure you’re wondering why we bought another tacky banner for the fellowship hall or why the pastor still pronounces your name wrong, but please know you’re very appreciated, highly valued, and much needed. We can’t do what we do without YOU.
Warmly,
Bianca Olthoff
A Paid Church Staff Representative
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