As of this writing Fallowfield United Methodist Church volunteers and friends have made about 1,000 pies to sell at the Crawford County Fair. We’ve also sold lots of pies from the church. Thursday I took an order for 45 whole pies. This was a first for me.
I supervised baking the pies at the church and chaired the 10:30 a.m. bakes. Some people are intimidated by the job, but I like being chairperson.
The best part is knowing I’m working with self-motivated people who want to help. I don’t have to prod people to do their jobs. It’s wonderful.
Everyone I worked with at pie bakes came to the church to help. They had fun, chatting with friends, old and new, and eating fresh pie and ice cream. But ultimately they all came to work.
Some volunteers have been making pies for our fair project since its inception in 1956. Others helped bake pies for the first time in their lives. But they all worked together and had fun.
I used to look at fair week as a chance to earn money for missions. I still to view it this way, but as a church member wisely pointed out, this is also a chance for our church to unite as we work together.
It bonds us as a group and reminds us that service to God takes many forms. It can be as simple as baking pies, or as challenging as starting a women’s crisis center in Ethiopia. (Jerry and Christy Shannon, formerly of Kennard, founded Embracing Hope Ethiopia, a women’s crisis center that we support through the fair project’s proceeds.)
This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”
And verse 27 adds, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (NIV)
Let’s apply this to making coconut cream pies. One lady makes pie crust while another rolls it out. Someone else makes coconut cream filling and another makes meringue. But unless all the parts of the pie are assembled and baked properly, the individual pie components would be worthless.
In the same way, each of us who follow Jesus has a role. We are all called to serve Him in different ways. Our pastor was called to preach. My mom and I teach Sunday school. Others mow the church’s lawn. One person might clean the church and another directs the choir.
Outside the physical church, we all have duties, as well. Some have the gift of mercy and visit people in nursing homes, hospitals and jails. Others give generously to those less fortunate. You get the idea.
I am so grateful for the chance to serve God by baking pies. I’m equally grateful, perhaps more so, for the chance to write encouraging material for you to read, my friends. People are continually astounded that I write a Christian column for a secular newspaper. I’m so blessed.
I hope you will find a way to serve God this week using your unique talents. Have a wonderful week. Blessings!