Community Appreciation Day: Serving with One’s Strengths
By Julie Wilson
News Story
October 18, 2016
The students of Clarks Summit University took a break from classes to reach out and serve in their community. On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, students could be found around Northeast Pennsylvania raking leaves, cleaning buildings, delivering encouraging notes and snacks, and serving in many other capacities. Introduction to journalism students promoted the event live on social media using the hashtag #CSUservesNEPA.
Serving Others
One community group of CSU students partnered with members of Heritage Baptist Church to bake cookies for the Fall Fun Day in the Abingtons. Group leaders Kati Raven and Amy Hannah wanted a service project that used the talents of the girls they lead. Baking cookies helped the girls see that ministry doesn’t have to be boring, and you can have fun serving others. Lexi Carver stated, “It was an opportunity for us to get together and do something we love to serve others.” God creates individuals with specific passions that He can use for His glory, and these girls were able to live this out.
Building Community
They found a need, worked together and deepened relationships through the time spent baking and preparing for the local fall fun day. Bre Guiles said the day gave them a chance to “impact the community by our love, demonstrated through teamwork.” Each student had a job in the preparation of the cookies that will be used in the community fall fun day. They were thankful for the opportunity to help the community using their strengths and passions.
Living out Scripture
Community Appreciation Day gives the students an opportunity to live out what they have learned in classes and in their Bible reading. Peter admonishes believers, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (ESV 1 Pet 4:10). Paul reminds followers of Christ that they are created for good works, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV Eph 2:10). The girls of Xi Community Group at CSU were able to live this out even in something as simple as baking cookies.
They served the fruits of their labor at The Gathering Place, 304 South State Street, during Fall Fun Day in the Abingtons.
Julie A Wilson 