Serve Week @ Fenway Church – The Pleasure of Serving

In the spirit of our desire to engage our communities through prayer, service and telling God’s big story, our community groups (CGs) will be serving their neighborhoods the last week of October. Below is an update and celebration of what we’re up to and why we’re doing it. 

Why We Serve 

Standing in the bright morning sun last Sunday, surrounded by college students from our church and gardeners at the Fenway Victory Gardens, I couldn’t help but think two thoughts – “why did they come?” and “this is so fun!”

A bunch of students (who probably would have preferred to sleep in) got up early on Sunday to serve at the final Community Participation Day at the Fenway Garden Society, kicking off Serve Week at Fenway Church. Rather than hitting the snooze button, they chose to sort through and clean up compost piles, plant daffodil bulbs and build and repair fences (with and for people they didn’t know). And why? My guess is that they want to be more like Jesus, who came as a servant among us (Luke 22:27).

But, I think it’s also because there is a pleasure in serving. When we give freely of our time, energy and talents to others, we experience the same love that our Heavenly Father has for us and gives us unconditionally. When we serve, we act out a quality of kingdom living, characterized by giving freely of ourselves for the benefit of others. Through service, we embody a key component of God’s character and, as God’s children, that is enjoyable and fun! 

How We’re Serving

This week, all of Fenway Church’s community groups are serving the different neighborhoods in which they meet. Here are some of the ways we’ll be serving our neighbors:

• Getting the word out about family and community services by helping Operation Peace distribute their newsletter throughout Fenway businesses and residences
• Offering warmth and love by serving free hot chocolate to residents of Jamaica Plain as they head home from work 
• Completing random acts of kindness for our neighbors in Jamaica Plain, East Boston, Quincy and Roxbury
• Preparing and sharing a meal with people rising out of homelessness
• Partnering with Abundant Grace Church to let residents in Oak Square know about their new location
• Receiving and sorting through bikes with Bikes Not Bombs for parts that will contribute to overseas economic development and programs wherein Boston youth get active, make friendships and are empowered as leaders in their community

Looking at this synopsis, I am amazed at the impact we’re having on the city! Powered by God’s love, we’ll be serving many of Boston’s neighborhoods and, in doing so, enjoying the fun of becoming more like Jesus.