• Home
    • Gathering Guidelines
    • Ways to Give
  • Prayer Corner
    • Share a Request
    • Memorial Tribute >
      • Hetty Postma
      • Edna Kirby
      • Norman Hunter
      • Ina Rottier
      • Dennis Brommeland
      • Norris Thompson
      • Irv Wood
      • Ann Vander Kooi
      • Jack Demorest
      • Yde Vander Kooi
      • Ainsley Rose Wollf
      • Dick Mayer
      • David Rusnell
      • Bob McKay
      • Guy Deschatelets
      • Chloe Kroeger
      • Ida Barisoff
      • Gerard Zandee
      • Nick Dikur
  • About Valley
    • Annual Reports >
      • 2022 Annual Report
      • 2021 Annual Report
      • 2020 Annual Report
      • 2019 Annual Report
      • 2018 Annual Report
    • Membership Information
    • Who We Are
    • What We Believe
    • How We Are Governed >
      • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Where We Are Going
  • Ministries
    • Leadership Team >
      • Nomination Committee
      • Benevolent Ministry
    • Finance and Property >
      • 2023 Budget
      • Current Quarterly Report
    • Missions >
      • Missions Guidelines
    • Caring and Connecting
    • Christian Education >
      • Library
    • Worship >
      • Heritage House
  • What's Happening
    • Bulletin
    • Links
  • Photos
    • Annual Celebration >
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
    • 30th Anniversary
    • 25th Anniversary
    • Follow the Duck 2014
    • Mexico 2013
    • Follow the Crown 2013
    • "The Bridge"
    • 20th Anniversary
  • Messages
    • Archived Messages 2023
    • Archived Messages 2022
    • Archived Messages 2021
    • Archived Messages 2020
    • Archived Messages 2019
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Directory
VALLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

In Praise of Volunteers

4/23/2016

0 Comments

 
In light of the article in the Oliver Chronicle this week, I have been asked what that was all about.  I recently had the opportunity to speak at  Volunteer Appreciation event.  The following is my address to that gathering.

I really didn’t know what to expect on the other side of the door; there was for me that moment of anxiousness.  But I had agreed to this volunteer opportunity and the call indicated there was a sense of urgency in responding, so Janice and I went, knocked on the door and quietly slipped inside.
 
Bill (not his real name) was lying beside his wife in a hospital bed, holding her close; she was in her final hours of life.  He noticed us as we made our way toward the room, “You must be Ken, I’m so glad you came.”
 
For the next twenty minutes or so we listened as Bill shared the story of their life together.  We interacted with him for a few minutes, offered some words of encouragement, comfort and hope and then left so that he could spend his final moments with his wife.
 
Stories like this get repeated every day in large centres and small communities as volunteers come alongside to support and encourage or provide practical expressions of service and kindness.
 
Today is about recognizing, appreciating, and honoring the commitment and dedication of our volunteers.  Whether you serve on the front lines supporting others--being a caring and compassionate presence, often at time when they are feeling weak and vulnerable and afraid; or if you provide a service that lifts and inspires others; or if you serve behind the scenes, providing administrative support or practical kinds of assistance that makes the environment or surroundings easier or more beautiful, in your own way each you give of yourself, your time and energy and resources to invest in others; to make a difference and make our communities a better place.
 
There is very little in life that brings as much satisfaction and joy than when we give of ourselves to come alongside, to bless and encourage, to support and lift up another person.  To serve as a volunteer is one of the highest callings in life.  It is sometimes demanding, sometimes challenging and draining, but it is one of the most noble, enriching and rewarding experiences we will ever have.
 
Look at any thriving community, dig a little beneath the surface and you will discover a group of dedicated volunteers.  Volunteers are the root of a strong community!  It takes all of us working together, giving and serving to make our communities a great place to live and work and play.
 
When we left Bill that evening, there was that moment when I sensed the short time we had invested that night was worth it; in a small way we had made a difference.  A few days later I received a card from Bill, in it he wrote:  Ken, I just wanted to thank you and your wife for coming to the hospital on such short notice and provide (my wife) with that spiritual comfort that she had asked for.  I left it to the last moment and would not have forgiven myself but suddenly you were there.  It gave me such comfort as her final hours ticked by.
 
This is the stuff I live for! 
 
Sometimes we get a note of thanks or a word of encouragement, but sometimes our efforts seemingly go unnoticed.  But not today!  Today we honor you; we celebrate your contribution; we express our appreciation and simply say ‘thank you’!  It is a privilege to be among you; I join in the celebration with you and want to be among those who say ‘well done’!

To all of our volunteers at Valley, who serve in our church and our communities, I say to you, 'thank you, well done'!

                                      Serve one another humbly in love. 
(Galatians 5:13)

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Ken Clarke has been the Pastor at Valley since 2007. He lives in the Oliver area 
    with his wife Janice. They have three adult children, Lisa, Scott & Tiffany (Riley, Charlie), Andrea & Jason (Noah, Luke).

    Categories

    All
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church
    Creation
    Easter
    Finishing Well
    Leadership
    Mexico
    Most Viewed
    Nature Of God
    Our Stories
    Parenting
    Prayer
    Relationships
    Worship

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

4312 Black Sage Road Box 1235 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 250-498-4829 valleyccc@hotmail.com