Where are you sowing this year?

Good morning.We trust you’ve had a restful and restorative break over January. Now it’s back to work, school or just back into things, the everyday stuff of life.No doubt you’re beginning to plan the year: dates for holidays, priorities for 2013, important decisions.  Life can get very, very busy very quickly.Over summer at St Philips, we’ve been encouraging a season of abiding, of rest and a time to reflect.Now, as we get going into 2013, we would like to encourage you into a season of planting. Malcolm asked us last Sunday in his talk, “Where are you sowing this year?” Ecclesiastes 3:2 reminds us that there is ‘a time to plant and a time to uproot’.It’s such a good question,  where are you sowing? Where are you going to sow and what might that look like?  It will be in many places that you sow the seeds of faithful witness to Jesus, serving those who are in need, being salt and light wherever you are.Over the next couple of Sundays we will be handing out a questionnaire asking ‘How would you  like to serve at St Philips?’ It’s an opportunity to pray and reflect on how you could serve this community in simple but necessary ways that enable this place to function every week. We all benefit from good worship services with great worship music,  a coffee & tea after the service, a clean church and well-kept grounds, a welcoming hello from someone at the door, pew-sheets, website, power-points etc. The list goes on. It doesn’t just happen but is made possible by willing volunteers.A number of you have been serving in this community for many years and would like a break - ‘time to uproot’.  Some of you may feel that God is nudging you  - ‘start planting again’.At the end of the service you’ll be given a questionnaire to fill in. Please take time to prayerfully reflect on where you’d like to be involved.  Take it home and ask God what he would have you do  - a season to plant or a season to uproot.Please, If you don’t have the grace to serve, then don’t. We’re looking for cheerful hearts not compelled ones.May the Holy Spirit guide you in your deliberations.BlessingsCheryl Potts on behalf of the Leadership Team