by Jill Fandrich
There’s an old saying that “the devil is in the details,” meaning that seemingly straightforward ideas might be more complicated to execute than anticipated. Years of church work supports the truth in the saying. Sometimes we get overwhelmed by the enormity of the need in our world and our limited abilities and resources to address everything we want to address. So we do what can by paying attention to the small things that can make a difference. I’d like to suggest that “God is in the details” too. In fact, very much so.
Church boards and committees deal with important and lofty matters of faith, theology, justice, and mission, but how we actually do the work of God is determined in the small ways we live out our faith on a daily basis. Yes, I’ve been in meetings where we get sidetracked over who will bring the paper products or what color we should paint a room. I’ve also been in meetings when we’ve spent a great deal of time and energy determining how to meet the unique needs of people and situations, and how to best serve God in the process.
For the most part, paying attention to the “little things” are signs that we care enough to do the big things well. The following is a partial list of the ways my church serves others, in small ways and large.
In addition to the things our church does collectively, there are many things we do individually. Our members serve on local boards, run for public office, volunteer at Matthew House, build beds at Sleep in Heavenly Peace, lead worship in Auburn Correctional Facility, carry signs at community rallies, stock shelves at food pantries, deliver “Meals on Wheels,” sing in community choirs, tutor with Literacy Volunteers, work as teachers, nurses, or service providers, and much more.
Will these programs and activities bring world peace, eradicate poverty, end hunger, or eliminate racism and inequality? No… not in and of themselves. But they each will help someone in their own ways. I am reminded of the quote attributed to Mother Theresa— "Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
So the next time you or someone complains about long meetings, low attendance at events, frustration over complicated plans, or feeling too small to make a difference, remember that “God is in the details”. The details, the little things, are what matter.
Writer and pastor Rev. Mark Sandlin said it well in a recent article, “All the world’s major religions aren’t trying to turn us into saints. They’re just trying to turn us into better neighbors. And honestly? That’s enough. That’s world-changing.”
There’s an old saying that “the devil is in the details,” meaning that seemingly straightforward ideas might be more complicated to execute than anticipated. Years of church work supports the truth in the saying. Sometimes we get overwhelmed by the enormity of the need in our world and our limited abilities and resources to address everything we want to address. So we do what can by paying attention to the small things that can make a difference. I’d like to suggest that “God is in the details” too. In fact, very much so.
Church boards and committees deal with important and lofty matters of faith, theology, justice, and mission, but how we actually do the work of God is determined in the small ways we live out our faith on a daily basis. Yes, I’ve been in meetings where we get sidetracked over who will bring the paper products or what color we should paint a room. I’ve also been in meetings when we’ve spent a great deal of time and energy determining how to meet the unique needs of people and situations, and how to best serve God in the process.
For the most part, paying attention to the “little things” are signs that we care enough to do the big things well. The following is a partial list of the ways my church serves others, in small ways and large.
- Delivering meals to members and friends who are sick, recovering from surgery, or welcoming a new baby.
- Sending cards or making calls to let people know we’re thinking of them.
- Delivering communion to homebound members and friends.
- Knitting prayer shawls or lap blankets to wrap people in warmth and love.
- Donating food to local food pantries.
- Distributing personal care items and cleaning supplies to people who need them.
- Opening our church to AA, AlAnon, Heroin Anonymous, and Narcotic Anonymous.
- Helping a family of children in Uganda attend school.
- Sponsoring and supporting scout troops who meet in our church.
- Welcoming our unhoused neighbors by providing a “Safe and Warm” space to gather every Friday afternoon.
- Worshiping with the residents of Westminster Manor.
- Providing free books for adults and children in our “Little Free Library”.
- Helping local children stay warm in the winter by being the storage and distribution site for “Warm the Children”.
- Giving Christmas gifts to local families, through the county’s Early Intervention Program.
- Awarding scholarships to Westminster students to pursue college education.
- Advocating for social justice and educating ourselves on community needs.
- Instituting environmentally friendly practices in our church with new lighting, recycling efforts, and reusable or compostable products.
- Hosting concerts and recitals for community choirs.
- Sharing our playground with the YMCA preschool.
- Making our church welcoming to everyone, with accessible rest rooms, wheelchair seating in the sanctuary, level entries, a chair lift, and a good sound system.
- Livestreaming worship so that homebound members and friends can worship from home.
In addition to the things our church does collectively, there are many things we do individually. Our members serve on local boards, run for public office, volunteer at Matthew House, build beds at Sleep in Heavenly Peace, lead worship in Auburn Correctional Facility, carry signs at community rallies, stock shelves at food pantries, deliver “Meals on Wheels,” sing in community choirs, tutor with Literacy Volunteers, work as teachers, nurses, or service providers, and much more.
Will these programs and activities bring world peace, eradicate poverty, end hunger, or eliminate racism and inequality? No… not in and of themselves. But they each will help someone in their own ways. I am reminded of the quote attributed to Mother Theresa— "Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
So the next time you or someone complains about long meetings, low attendance at events, frustration over complicated plans, or feeling too small to make a difference, remember that “God is in the details”. The details, the little things, are what matter.
Writer and pastor Rev. Mark Sandlin said it well in a recent article, “All the world’s major religions aren’t trying to turn us into saints. They’re just trying to turn us into better neighbors. And honestly? That’s enough. That’s world-changing.”
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