Steve Lufburrow, long-time church member; former teacher of the Genesis Class and Encounter Drummer/Singer
1 Thessalonians 3:9-10
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and Day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Reflection: 
Last month my wife and I were in line at Starbucks. During the pandemic the lines are very long so we packed our patience and waited. Finally, after 15 minutes in line we arrived at the window to pick up our order. The kind employee smiled and said, “The car in front of you paid for your order. Pass it on!” We’ve heard about this happening but never thought it would happen to us. So, guess what we did? We passed it on. We felt such joy for the gift that was given to us and for the opportunity to be able to pass it on and share joy to someone else. 

As we drove down the road, Joan and I began to talk about our faith. We wondered about the person who had passed their gift on to us. Were they Christians or not and what made them do such a loving thing in the line of the Starbucks? In our faith journey it’s important to take the teachings of Christ and pass them on to others. Sometimes it is physically hard to meet with people or groups and share your faith, especially during a pandemic. However, the kindness that we experienced meant the world to us and was an example of sharing good in the world. 

Sometimes we get so focused on our own issues and the hustle-and-bustle of our lives. It only takes a small gesture of kindness to remind others about the good in the world.  Who knows, maybe the person who gave the gift to us was a new Christian or had just heard a sermon about passing on kindness in faith? And maybe the recipient behind us in line that day continued to pass it on to others. No matter the outcome, this event reminded us that Christ is always around us and sharing love through the gifts of kindness. Will you pass it on?

Closing Prayer:
God, You have inspired within your creation ongoing expressions of love and compassion. Thank you for all the ways you show us that your loving kindness has no end, both through big gestures and small surprises. Amen.