Opportunities [abound]
In an email a couple days ago to the friends and family of Illumine, I asked people to share what opportunities they believe we might have as individual Christians and/or as a church to serve God and others in the midst of the pandemic and all the emotions/fears/actions we’re seeing in us and around us. Below are the responses I received. I will share them anonymously. In most cases, I shorten the responses. Enjoy reading just a bit of the fruit of God’s love shining through his children, and pick one or more of them to do yourself!
— Pastor Nathan
praying
sharing toilet paper for those who might not have been able to get some. For those that might be shut ins.
use what we have in the food pantry and blessing bags to share the love of Christ with our neighbors
get a needs list for someone who is high risk & deliver items to their doorstep (donated if possible).
playing instruments on the porch of an elderly neighbor couples' home.
use a site like jigsawinteractive.com to gather together with people
deliver groceries to those who can’t afford them or get out to get groceries
doing check-ins on our loved ones and friends who may be ill or immunocompromised or otherwise at risk, offering to assist in any way they may need.
practice kindness in everything
commit to touching base with at least one family member or other person each day
leave a little note on your neighbors’ porches letting them know you are available to do drugstore/grocery runs or other small errands and then leave the items on their porch
If the government does do some sort of blanket payout, those of us who are still able to work might consider pooling that money and directing it towards those who are financially hurting, whether that is within the congregation or the broader community.
start some sort of social media group to help people find supplies. Most stores are out of certain things, but shipments come and go and if someone needs something like chicken or whatever, a network of people might be able to locate it better. The hoarding is real and I worry about some people not finding what they need.
contacting my neighbors who I don’t normally have any contact with
be sure our elderly neighbors have the supplies they need.
serving as a substitute teacher for grandchildren while they are out of school, and taking the opportunity to teach them about Jesus’ love for them
being a calming influence on others and showing them the antidote to fear
tipping at least 20% no matter what when ordering takeout, so that the money will go to the employees whose hours have been cut
compiling an “I need ______” list for the people that have to stay home (immuno-compromised or elderly) and people can go grab the items they need or are out of and take it to them.
contacting local first responders, asking what help they are in need of, and then work together to fulfill those needs