Page 21 - Contact Summer 2017
P. 21

KIRK SERVE                                                  WHERE DO YOU SERVE?


                                                                    We primarily serve within our own parish.
                                                                    We do this so as not to spread us too thin as
                                                                    we are a small team. We decided to keep our
                                                                    service close to home. It was also decided
                                                                    to keep our service for now to those not
                                                                    connected to “High Kirk” (it is an evangelical
                                                                    mission after all).

                                                                    It would surprise you how many people are
                                                                    aware of “High Kirk” and how warmly they
                                                                    speak of it, however, they have not met a
                                                                    representative from our congregation in years.
                                                                    We as a congregation have so much to add to
               WHAT IS KIRK SERVE?                                  the community around us. When GOD placed
                                                                    OUR church to where it now stands forty years
               Kirk Serve is a new venture by our                   ago, He knew the current and future needs of
               congregation to reach out into the community         the people in the area. When GOD placed YOU
               around us in a practical way.  We do this by         in High Kirk, He knew YOU had the gifts and
               first offering a free service to do “odd jobs”,      talents to meet the needs of the people in the
               however, do not be confused about what our           local community. So if YOU think YOU are not
               congregation is trying to achieve. The “odd job”     the person for “Kirk Serve” do not worry, GOD
               aspect is our introduction into the lives of the     thinks YOU are.
               people in our parish. After the initial “odd job” is
               completed, we build up friendships and               As mentioned above, do not be put off by the
               relationships of trust with the people we meet,      sound of “Odd Jobs.” I and a few others do not
               with the aim of bringing the gospel of Jesus         mind doing the work, however, behind every
               Christ back into their lives. This is what “Kirk     person is a story waiting to be told. Some
               Serve” is truly about.  It is through this medium    stories are funny, others are not so funny.
               that we as a congregation can ascertain the real     Some may make you cry or miss a night’s sleep,
               needs in the community around us, rather than        some may even make you want to pull your hair
               the felt needs we often think they need.             out. However, we do not judge. We treat
                                                                    everyone with unconditional positive regard.
               HOW DOES IT WORK?                                    We show patience, kindness and love. Are YOU
                                                                    the person who would be willing to listen
               To start with we put fliers and wait for the         to their story and maybe bring to them the
               “Serve Line” to ring. I then go out and view the     salvation power of the greatest story ever told,
               requested job and if I think we could do it in a     that of Christ and his love for US.
               morning/afternoon or evening then I may go
               ahead with the job. It could be as wide ranging      At the end of the day, “Kirk Serve” is only
               as gardening, putting a flat pack together or        another letter on the Double Helix of DNA that
               painting a fence.                                    makes up part of the tissue that is “High Kirk”
                                                                    church. This in turn is part of the wider body of
               A new avenue surfaced recently, when a               the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and indeed
               hospital social worker asked would it be             GOD’S church on Earth, bringing glory to God.
               possible if they could tie us into a care package    If “Kirk Serve” does not appeal to you, may I
               on occasion by putting a few fixings in place for    suggest you find a ministry in our church that
               people coming home for hospital (we shall see        does.
               how that develops).
                                                                    I am going to sign off now, but before I go there
                                                                    is something I have always wanted to say, so
                                                                    from me and the team, God Bless and “KIRK
                                                                    OUT!”

                                                                    Martin Delaney
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