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October 1, 2003
“Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves
break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break
in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also.” (NRSV)
Matthew 6:19–21
Over the summer a group of us from Fourth Church went on a mission
trip to Ghana, where we met up with a member of our congregation
who had spent a year there as a volunteer. The experience was rich
as we made friendships with different Presbyterian communities,
worked on building a new church, visited hospitals and schools,
and learned something about life and work and worship in that part
of Africa. Each of us came back with stories and encounters that
inform us in new ways of thinking the faith and living it out. Here’s
one example:
On the first Sunday, some of us went to the makeshift church in
the village where the new church was being built. In this bamboo
frame with a thatched roof, we had our first taste of Sunday morning
worship Ghana-style. After the service, as I reflected on the amazing
songs and dancing, the choirs and drummers, something struck me.
I realized that the amount of time allocated to receiving people’s
offerings was about the same as the amount of time for the sermon!
This was for a couple of reasons. One, the people did not sit
and wait for a plate to be passed. Two huge plastic bowls were placed
at the front of the church and the congregation joyfully and in
a stately manner sang and danced their way forward with their gifts.
Second, there was not one but four offerings! Regular, Thanksgiving,
an auction of goods (someone had given a sheep to the church), and
finally a fun and semi competitive offering based on which day of
the week you were born. (The Sunday-borns won.)
So here in Ghana was a lesson, not just about joyful giving or
the generosity of the people, most of whom were subsistence farmers.
It was a lesson also about our response to God being commensurate
with the extravagance of God’s gift of grace which we encounter
in God’s word.
Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Amen (Prayer text by Frances Ridley Havergal)
Reflection written by Calum I. MacLeod, Associate
Pastor for Young Adults and New Members
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