Worship Unplugged # 61 'Choose Serving Over Self Interest'

At one of my local congregations [Charlestown] I was up for one of on average two worship services per year. The locals are focusing for about six weeks on 'stewardship' and I was invited to consider taking that approach from my own perspective... which I was happy to do.

Colleagues on the 'youthmultimedia' egroup passed on a number of helpful suggestions and I found a few bits n pieces amongst an enormous ammount of 'dross'.

While I thought the tag was inadequate the "24" styled clip from Worship House Media about how we spend our time was a helpful substitute for a second 'reading'. The "Opportunities" clip from 'The Work of the People' was a simple observation that when we miss a chance to 'serve' we set off the bitterfly effect of missed opportunity that could be part of the living out of a world lived according to the values of God. I inserted an unexplained snippet of Trevor's assignment from 'Pay It Forward.'

There were a few more aspects as we explored the notion that stewardship was an activity of bringing about a world lived according to the values of God [reflecting on the parables about mustard seeds, yeast and the pearl] from Matthew 13: 31-33 44-46.



Simple definition "choosing serving over self interest"

It's about using your gifts and abilities from a standpoint of thinking about others

Wrestled with and didn't include a reflection time using 'Life Uncommon' by Jewel

Instead chose "Opportunity" Pete Murray/John Mayer from the ARIAs

Added [3] other Photostory videos of images so had four videos in one Powerpoint slide

We earthed the simple definition in a difficult exercise of ranking sceanrios by 'importance'

Drew out the need for communal action and different gifts in the activity




How would rank the importance of:

Giving money to the ‘Fred Hollows Foundation’ charity for eye surgery in the third world
Giving money to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal to rebuild the community
Getting involved in Meals on Wheels visiting older people and delivering their lunches
Joining an Aboriginal Reconciliation Group to work on a communitye event
Being at a Family members Dinner to catch up with relatives you don’t see often
Giving money to your local church activities and mission carried out by teams of volunteers and leaders
Installing solar electricity roof panels contributing power to the grid and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Buying only fair-trade coffee and chocolate from a local green grocer
Talking to a friend about why you’re part of a community of faith and what God’s call means to you
Spending time at your local pub listening to a friend talk about a few of their hassles and current relationship
Encouraging someone you know to give something a go that they are thinking about and would be great at
Writing letters to your local mp about an issue you see as important for the future of your communty