^Josie^{'s Corner}

June 2011
Work of the Deacon

June 26, 2011
Saint Alban, Patron Saint of Converts & Refugees

July 2011
Vacation Bible School

The Reverend Deacon Josie Williams

Vacation Bible School

July 2011

Diakonia is the ministering to the needs of others as a servant; it begins with unconditional service to a neighbor in need.

St. Alban's is no stranger to this. We engaged in serving others along with St. Paul's and Bovina United Methodist churches by conducting Vacation Bible School June 20-23 at St. Alban's. The churches have decided to rotate VBS on a three year cycle. This year St. Alban's had the privilege. The parish hall was transformed into Christmas in June.

The community gathered for fellowship, fun and food. Each night a crew of volunteers arrived ready for the evening's activities and left joyfully exhausted only to return the next night for a repeat. This exuberant, contagious enthusiasm is St. Alban's at its best.

The wreath of hands that was created in one activity sums it up. In case you are wondering what in the world I am talking about, let me tell you. One activity was to trace your hand on green paper and decorate with glitter glue. The children and many of the adults present completed this activity resulting in a wreath of hands. The wreath is on display in the parish hall along with the banners. The start of one hand picked up where the other left off in the same way that each member of the community gave. Each gave as he/she best could: monetary donations, prayers, served meals, supervised the space jump, created crafts, painted banners, traced hands, set up and took down tables, took out trash, and sang. Many hands make light work; and indeed there were many hands.

As I learn more about being a deacon and being a part of community I realize how blessed I am to have St. Alban's as a teacher as I learn to live more into diakonia.

I am excited and look forward to my next lessons at the knee of St. Alban's as we grow into servant ministry together. Let us grow old together.

Peace

Josie+