Critical Volunteers!

My wife, Linda, was up at 5:00 a.m. this morning preparing for the ministry, she founded more than 25 years ago, called Mom's Morning Out. She has been so committed to this ministry over the years. She recruits childcare every week, she cares for the moms and tries to help them keep growing in their faith. She has given 8-10 hours per week to this ministry for all of these years. Now our daughter is leading a similar group through St. Marks Lutheran Church is Cedar Rapids.

Linda says the key to this ministry is all of the volunteers who join her to serve the moms. She's right. Mom's Morning Out is one of our many key ministries that wouldn't even exist without volunteers and a volunteer leader.

I started thinking of this and wanted to say a word of encouragement to all of Orchard's volunteers. It requires hundreds of volunteers every week to be the church.

So, thank you....

300 volunteers who have committed to Christmas in Walnut

200+ volunteers who serve in Children's Ministry every Sunday morning

Volunteer parking team

Volunteer Coffee House team

Volunteer muscicians

Money counters

Newsletter folders

Greeters, ushers,

Big House, CHAOS, and BASIC volunteers in Student Ministry

Meal preparers on Wednesday night and Picnic in the Park

Small Group Leaders

I could go on and on but I won't. These volunteers and many others serve faithfully in seen and unseen ways. Thank you so much.

At our recent Congregational Celebration, our Volunteer Leadership Board shared their hearts for our church. Many have mentioned to me that it was moving to hear our Board of Elders share their hearts. At the top of this entry is a picture of many of them from the Congregational Celebration.