I have a dream of a church which is a serving church –
which has seen Christ as the Servant and has heard
his call to be a servant too,
which is delivered from self-interest, turned inside
out, and giving itself selflessly to the service of others,
whose members obey Christ’s command to live in the
world, to permeate secular society, to be the salt of
the earth and the light of the world,
whose people share the good news of Jesus simply,
naturally and enthusiastically with their friends,
which diligently serves its own parish [neighborhood], residents and
workers, families and single people, nationals and
immigrants, old folk and little children,
which is alert to the changing needs of society,
sensitive and flexible enough to keep adapting its
program to serve more usefully,
which has a global vision and is constantly
challenging its young people to give their lives in
service, and constantly sending its people out to serve.
I have a dream of a serving church.
-John Stott
As September comes to a close, we have heard from the Rev. Dr. John Stott about becoming a biblical, worshipping, and caring church. We come now to his dream of a serving church.
Saint Gabriel gives evidence of this through the ministries of Congregational Care and Outreach. Congregational Care is focused on the community within so that we become a church where no one need stand alone. We support people going through crises with prayer ministry, by providing comforting prayer quilts and Eucharistic visitation in people’s homes, among many other things.
We also have an active Outreach presence in the community beyond, specifically supporting ministries such as the Saint Francis Center, MetroCaring and HAAT Force South Metro. But we also look internationally through our longstanding engagement with Locally Haiti and the people of Petit-trou de Nippes and St. Paul's Mission and School.
The Archangel Gabriel in St. Luke’s gospel gave the word to Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband and John the Baptist’s father, that his wife would bear a son in her old age. The angel comes in the power of God and says, “I have been sent to you and to bring you this good news.”
With the coming of Jesus, the good news of God’s grace and life-changing love for all is made manifest.
We in turn give ourselves to serving as Jesus himself serves. You are invited to help us become an increasingly serving church.