2012 Lent 4: Get Out!

Get out of the building, I mean.

Today marked the soft (as opposed to grand) opening of the Free Store of Kalamazoo, a new ministry on the east side of Kalamazoo Lutheran Church of the Savior shares with some of our local United Methodist partners - Sunnyside UMC, Stockbridge UMC, and Chapel Hill UMC. I had the chance to volunteer today, meeting folks, building and tearing down clothes racks, breaking down boxes, and whatever other behind-the-scenes and skirting-around-the-edges-of-the-scenes work folks could find for me. As much as I love being a pastor, leading and doing that important work, I also love the opportunity to just be a part of the team, helping out where necessary and supporting the leaders of this wonderful ministry.


It was great to be able to help out today, but even greater has been the enthusiasm of LCS members in supporting the Free Store. When the store was first described to the congregation at our Annual Meeting, the question was not whether to support it, but why we were not committing more of our budget to the store! We have had great numbers of volunteers at the store whenever they have been needed, and folks have just been so positive about this ministry because it meets the needs - for clothing and for community - of God's people in Kalamazoo. I have lost count of how many people have told me, "Pastor, this is what we are supposed to be doing," when talking with me about the Free Store. It's a promising ministry born out of a strong partnership committed to doing God's work in the community. Thanks to everyone who has worked, prayed, and sweated to make this dream a reality.

God's work most often takes place in the world, not so often in the church building.


In other out-in-the-community news, come check out some roller derby at Wings Stadium next Saturday night, March 3rd. I can promise no more - and no less - than awesomeness.