Servant Workers in Action

Pot’s Ponderings

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. When I lived there I was always amazed at the sheer size and scope of Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. It is common for the Thanksgiving Day weekend to be the busiest travel period of the year. It has no equal among holidays observed in the U.S. - not even Christmas or the 4th of July match the hype of an American Thanksgiving.

We see the hype from a distance in Canada. We see the football and TV ads and glitzy Black Friday ads. I’ve seen the following on social media lately, “Only in America, people trample others for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have.” This is a funny and poignant quote, but it also provides opportunity for all of us to consider how the absurdities that we may see in others, are likely just as prevalent in us.

Part of what we try to do at Beacon Christian School is to immerse our students in a different story. A story that not only asks and tells students to live thankfully, but gives them opportunity to do so.

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Today in chapel our students were split into their multi-age GIFT groups. Our theme for the month is servant-working, so each group completed one activity that embodies serving others.

First, our Gr. 8 class shared a skit on servant working:

Then, the GIFT groups split up and were off. Two groups bought and delivered Tim Horton's coffee to our neighbours. There were some surprised and happy faces who opened the doors of their homes to find our students there to give them warm coffee. 

Several groups made cards. Some made cards to deliver to clients of Community Care. They will be delivered with the food items that we are collecting for the next few weeks. 

 

Two groups made cards for a local retirement home that will be delivered later 

with some home made cookies.

JK made cards for our librarian and caretaker. 

One group gave out candy canes to people shopping in Giant Tiger, waiting in the MTO licensing office and workers at the local garage. They had to be brave and step outside their comfort zone. They also delivered candy canes to the international school sharing our property. 

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Two groups raked and picked up leaves on our playground to help our maintenance man.

Another group made cards for children in the hospital. 

Our memory verse from Matthew this month:  ...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—  just as the Son of Mandid not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. encourages us as we continue to look for opportunities to serve others in big and small ways, in order to be the hands and feet of Jesus.