St Botolph's

I recently discovered that it was Volunteers' Week, which we are encouraged to remember in June. A time when we can stop and say thank you to all those who volunteer in our church and for the benefit of the wider community. It made me stop and think about just how much of our community life depends on people who quietly give their time, energy and skills to others.

This fits really well with what I have been talking about in school over the past few weeks – about service to our communities. We have looked at the service of some amazing people like Mother Teresa, Keanu Reeves, George Michael to name a few you might know. We have also talked about all those who help as school governors, serve on the PTA, pick up our litter, help and serve at the Foodbank, providing the ‘Make Lunch’ project (which makes hot meals for families in the school holidays) We have also looked at the King and the way he honoured over 1138 people this year in June for all the work they do for their communities, for fund raising, etc – there are a few people in that list you might recognise - Kevin Sinfield, Malorie Blackman, Julia Donaldson, Helen Mirren , 6 of the Lionesses women’s football team but most you will never have heard of, but it is really important to say ‘thank you’.

Whether it is helping at a toddler group, helping to run a group for the more elderly in our community, visiting a neighbour, coaching a sports team, serving in a charity shop, serving on your local Village Hall committee or parish council, organising a community event or simply being there for someone who needs support, volunteers help to hold our communities together.

Many of these acts of generosity go unnoticed. They are rarely rewarded and often carried out without any expectation of recognition. Yet they make a profound difference.

Sir Keir Starmer said:-

‘Across Britain, people are changing lives every day. This year’s King’s Birthday Honours List recognises their compassion, resilience and service to others. It reflects the kind, helpful country we are proud to be part of’.

It raises an interesting question:

What motivates people to give so much of themselves?

For Christians, generosity begins with gratitude.

One of the Psalms in the Bible, encourages us to "make a joyful noise to the Lord" and reminds us that everything we have comes from God. Whether or not we think about it very often, life itself is a gift. The air we breathe, the relationships we enjoy, the beauty we encounter in the world and the opportunities we are given are not things we have created for ourselves.

When we recognise that life is a gift, gratitude naturally follows.

And gratitude often leads to generosity.

People who are thankful tend to become people who share. They give their time, their money, their energy. They offer their skills. They support good causes. They look for ways to help others flourish, and ‘as they are a blessing, they too are blessed’.

In the Christian faith, generosity is never simply about money. It is about recognising that everything we have can be used for the benefit of others.

One of Jesus' most memorable instructions to his disciples was this:

"Freely you have received; freely give." Matthew 10:8

Those words remain as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.

In a world that often encourages us to focus on what we lack, gratitude helps us notice what we already have. In a culture that can sometimes feel increasingly divided, generosity helps build stronger communities and deeper relationships.

I see evidence of this every week. Volunteers supporting young families, people caring for neighbours, food being donated to those in need, friendships being formed and lives being changed through simple acts of kindness.

None of these things make headlines. Yet together they create the kind of community most of us would like to live in.

Perhaps that is a challenge for all of us.

What have we received that we could share?

A little time? A listening ear? A practical skill? An encouraging word? A helping hand?

Generosity begins not with what we can spare, but with gratitude for what we have already been given.

And when gratitude becomes generosity, everyone benefits.

So during this next few weeks, perhaps we can do two simple things. First, take a moment to thank someone whose quiet service makes a difference to our community. And second, ask ourselves whether there might be one small way we could offer our own time, talents or kindness to others.

We may never receive a medal or appear on an honours list, but every act of service matters. Every kind word, every hour given, every helping hand offered helps to build a stronger, more caring community.

As we count our blessings, may gratitude inspire generosity, and may generosity continue to be one of the greatest gifts we can give.

Every blessing

Your Priest

Alison

St Botolph's

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