This is National Volunteer Week in Canada. The NVW (National Volunteer Week) web site says, “The marking of the value of Volunteers started in 1943 to mark the important role that women were contributing to the war effort on the home front. Although NVW was largely forgotten after the war ended, it experienced a revival in the late 1960’s when organizations stressed the importance of thanking volunteers across Canada. NVW was reinstated and has since grown to become the largest celebration of civic participation in Canada.”
The slogan for National Volunteer Week is “Volunteers are part of the ripple effect” drawing on the adage that a stone thrown in a pool has a ripple effect and one small stone can change the whole surface of the pool. It is a good illustration as volunteers efforts do reach far and wide into the community.
I love volunteers and I know that our church is totally dependent on the wonderful work done by many, many people who offer their gifts and services as part of their commitment to this congregation. I just spent a few minutes thinking about last Sunday. Through the course of the morning we had about 36 people offer their volunteer services as contribution to the morning services. From choir members to ushers, from those who prepare the coffee to those who count the offering, everyone pitches in to make the morning experience a positive one for all who gather. It takes a lot of volunteers to keep a vibrant and lively congregation like ours, well, vibrant and lively! I am grateful for everyone of them.
I also know that many of the folks who give of their time here at the church are also out in the community delivering meals on wheels, canvassing for different charities, volunteering at the hospital, visiting those who can’t get out, making casseroles for neighbours and on and on. Each effort, though maybe a small one for that individual has the ripple effect of changing the face of our community.
Jesus talked about small things making a big difference, a mustard seed, an eye of a needle, a little child, small in size but gigantic in terms of effect. Thank you volunteers. As the NVW web site says, “You rock”.
