Current Practice: Service

Dates: Weeks of Sept 27th—Nov 22nd

Jesus said that he “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). On the night before his death, he washed his disciples’ feet and invited them to follow his example (John 13:15). Service is love expressed by meeting another person’s practical need. It may mean giving time, helping with a task, sharing a burden, or noticing someone others overlook.

Jesus joins love for God with love for our neighbour (Matthew 22:37–39). Service gives that love a practical shape. It meets a real need, and it helps form us into people who notice and respond with compassion. Jesus says a tree is recognized by its fruit (Matthew 7:16–20); our everyday relationships are places where that fruit can grow.

We can start small and serve within our capacity. Some acts of service will be quiet and unseen (Matthew 6:2–4). Others will interrupt our plans, like the injured traveller interrupted the Samaritan’s journey (Luke 10:25–37). As we serve, we want to see people with dignity: to listen, learn their names, and make room for genuine relationship.

During this extended practice, we’ll try four exercises together. Our goal is simple: try the exercise, reflect on the experience, and talk honestly about it when we meet again.

The Practice of Service: Formation Exercises

Exercise 1 — Choosing to Serve

Reflect on Past Experiences

Have you ever served on a volunteer team at Brentview? What was the experience like?
What did you notice about yourself or about God?

Clarify This Week’s Exercise

Serving at Brentview is one way to love real people alongside others. Explore opportunities that fit your interests, schedule, and capacity. If you’ve considered joining a team, we invite you to take a next step. You can take part in this practice without adding an ongoing commitment.

• Explore a Team: Look at the opportunities on Church Center to volunteer. If one seems like a good fit, ask for more information or sign up.

• Build on how you already serve: If you already serve (or cannot add a new commitment right now) pay attention to one way you can serve this week and bring that experience back to the group.

• Choose to serve as a group: We’ve made a list of ways your group can serve together this quarter. Identify one or two opportunities for your group to make a difference together. (See: FOR Calgary Opportunities in the next section of this page)

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Exercise 2 — Engage Where You Are

Debrief the Previous Exercise

Were you able to sign up and/or serve last week? What was the experience like?
What did you notice about yourself or about God?

Clarify This Week’s Exercise

Serving doesn’t have to begin somewhere far away. We can begin by paying attention to the people God has already placed around us and expressing love by meeting an ordinary, practical need.

• Simple Act of Service: Do one simple act of service for someone in your family, workplace, neighbourhood, or relational circle. Wash the dishes, bring someone a coffee, run an errand, or help with a task. Start small and start where you are—but stretch yourself a bit too!

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Exercise 3 — Be Interruptible

Debrief the Previous Exercise

Who did you serve, and what happened?
What did you notice in yourself as you chose to serve?

Clarify This Week’s Exercise

Jesus often treated interruptions as opportunities to love people. Following him means learning to notice the person or need in front of us, even when it was not part of our plan.

• This week: Do one unplanned act of service. Begin your day asking God to help you notice opportunities to serve, then be willing to stop, adjust your plans, and respond when a need appears.

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Exercise 4 — Move Toward Someone in Need

Debrief Your Experience

Did an unexpected opportunity to serve come your way? How did you respond?
What made it easier or harder to allow yourself to be interrupted?

Clarify This Week’s Exercise

Jesus moves toward people who are easily overlooked. His vision for service goes beyond helping from a distance toward seeing people with dignity and developing genuine relationship.

• This week: Do one act of service for someone in need. Serve through a local organization or someone you already know, and look for an opportunity not simply to meet a need but to listen, learn their name, or deepen a relationship.