By Kimberly Knowle-Zeller
[S]o we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness (Romans 12:5-8).
It started with my front porch. While sitting one morning with my coffee, overlooking the town park, I had the idea to gather women together before the start of the school year. I posted a question on Facebook and sent off a few texts to friends: “Anyone interested in gathering on the first day of school and praying for the year?” One by one, mothers responded, and when school began, 20 of us gathered to pray.
Before we parted ways, another mom asked if we wanted to get together weekly for a mom’s group. One invitation led to another, and now, three years later, we have a group that gathers weekly to care, pray, and share the joy and tension of raising children.
Each week I connect with a group of moms and their kids. I give thanks for park playdates, snacks shared among friends, and conversations that lift up myriad mothering experiences. These gatherings are the result of saying yes over and over again, of offering invites and showing up, of being honest and vulnerable, of having small conversations about big things: sleep deprivation, making friends, childhood milestones, sickness, worry, love, and forgiveness.
We all have opportunities to invite and to say yes to the invitations before us — in our churches, schools, and neighborhoods.
Once I started being the one to invite, I couldn’t help but see the infinite number of ways to create community.
Maybe you love to cook — what if you organized women to make frozen meals for people who are recently home from the hospital?
Maybe painting or scrapbooking is your jam — what about gathering to make cards for residents of nursing homes, prisons, or missionaries overseas?
Like to walk and hike — invite others to join you picking up garbage.
Ready to make a change in your community — invite others to speak out for justice with you.
Whatever desire is stirring in your heart, maybe now is the time to invite others to join you. Maybe now is the time to see that your gifts can be used to build up God’s kingdom and share love with all God’s people. Imagine what can happen when the women of your congregation come together in this!
Let us pray. Gracious God, thank you for invitations and for the courage to invite others into the good work you are already doing in this world. Give me strength to see the needs before me and reach out. Help me be a beacon of hope for others. Amen.
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is a writer, pastor, wife, mother of two, and the co-author of The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, Mo. Her website is kimberlyknowlezeller.com.
Pr. Kimberly, such sage advice! I am encouraged by your ideas of invitation. Bless you, and thank you.