5th Sundays : Worship through Action

5^th Sundays  :  Worship through Action

Yesterday was our second 5^th Sunday of 2012.
At Beach Cities Christian Fellowship where I pastor, yesterday we gathered for worship outside. More time and energy went into our Sunday gathering than normal. We certainly spent more money as we threw a Neighborhood Cook-Out which featured: free food, live music from local singer/songwriters, two jump houses and crafts for kids.

This 5^th Sunday was an amazing day filled with good times and great music. We spent hours sharing life with neighbors and friends, many of whom we hadn’t previously met. The giggles from children bouncing and running brought smiles to everyone’s face. We couldn’t have asked for a better day in the Beach Cities.

What does 5^th Sunday mean?
On the months with five Sundays rather than meet in the Church Sanctuary we meet outside to Worship through Action.

At Beach Cities Christian Fellowship when we look at the life Jesus lead and how he instructed his followers, we see a call to care for others and not be hung up on ourselves. When looking at our own lives, we understand that with Jesus we can find great joy in coming alongside others and serving together. That is why we make space in our lives to be involved in serving the needs around us. 

5th Sundays can consist of: picking up trash around the neighborhood, making sandwiches for a local homeless shelter or helping a neighbor with their yard, cleaning up around the pier, or helping out at a retirement community. With endless possibilities, 5th Sundays are a great way to connect with others and celebrate God, who cares about his people and his creation!

Worship through Action.
Often we worship the living God in the same way week after week, day after day. In our self-absorbed, self-seeking, self-gratifying culture it truly is counter cultural to intentionally set time out for others. Even within the Church, it can seem odd for us to not practice our “normal” worship for the purpose of loving others as God has loved us.

In Matthew ch 22 Christ is asked what the greatest commandment is. He responds by saying "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And the second is like it, love your neighbor as your self."

This is what it means for us at Beach Cities to Worship through Action on the 5^th Sundays. We are saying to one another, our guests, and our neighbors – that outward service and worship is vital to who we are.  We are saying to our culture – we worship a living God who is involved in our lives and theirs. We are the hands and feet of Christ in the Twenty-first Century.
How are we as the body of Christ reaching out and loving the poor, the broken, the homeless, and the disenfranchised?

At Beach Cities Christian Fellowship we are intentionally creating space where we Worship through Action – as we step outside the walls of the Sanctuary and bring Glory to God through our active faith.