Search

Type your text, and hit enter to search:


Serving - What if I don't feel like it?

linked-g0049c9f0e 1280

 You get asked to help with a cleaning job, or in creche, or to give flyers out.  And immediately you think “but I don’t want to do that, it’s not something I enjoy, I guess it’s not my gift.”  

What would God say to that?  Well, lots of things, but here’s just one of them:  2 Corinthians 9:7 says: “God loves a cheerful giver.”  

So cheerfulness does matter.  God loves it when our hearts are in it.  If that’s not true, if we’re grudging, or cold, or if we are serving just because others expect it, we should take that seriously.  It can be right to take a break or a change.  A number of our long term servers have moved to doing something new to find some freshness.  That’s healthy.  But here’s the crucial thing to remember - before we seek a change, we may need to change ourselves.
  
Why? Because the cheerfulness mentioned here is primarily not because the task is in itself enjoyable, we love it, or it makes us happy. It’s that we love and enjoy Jesus, and he makes us happy.  Think of a newly wed going out on a cold day to unblock the drains.  He’s not cheerful doing it because he loves sticking his hand down and grabbing up chicken fat!  But he’s cheerful because it’s for her!  So with Christian service.  In 2 Corinthians the church are giving money away.  In John 13 it’s washing feet.  In a previous church one friend had the job of mopping up sick from around the church (it was next to a nightclub!).  It’s a strange person who finds these tasks fun or enjoyable in themselves!  But we’re cheerful when our hearts are full of Jesus and we’re doing it for him.  

This changes how you think about whether to stick at something or sign up to something new.  Of course it’s a bonus when something is fun, and fits our gifts.  But Christian service isn’t about self-fulfilment but about self-giving.  Often it may feel hard or sacrificial, or tiring, and like I’m struggling because it’s not my natural gift. Just like “The Son of Man didn’t come to be serve but to serve and to give his life...” (Mark 10:45).  But we do it…for him.

Can you pray this for yourself, for all the leadership at the Tab, and all the members?  We’re at a stage in the life of the Tab where there’s lots to get involved in and we need God to keep us being “cheerful givers.”


 

 

Barnaby, 21/03/2023
HelloWhite
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have this page for you to get to know us.
Click here to read more.

Welcome...

Come and join us...

 
Barnaby 4 Hello, my name is Barnaby, and I am the Pastor here at Lancing Tab. The aim of this website is just to give you a flavour of who we are and what we're about as a church.
 

icon1

We’re a church for the whole community in and around Lancing. Come as you are whatever doubts and questions you have.

icon3 As a church family, we all face different challenges, but we believe the Bible’s message about Jesus’ love and rescue are what we most need.
 
icon2 We meet at our building on North Road (next to the Co-op) at 10.30am each Sunday. It’s free and informal with tea, coffee, and kids’ groups.
 
Tabfront2
 

Sat Nav Postcode BN15 9BB

Our address is:
105 North Road
Lancing
West Sussex
BN15 9BB

There is limited street parking around the Tab. A public car park in North Farm Road is a two-minute walk. The charges for the cark park are £1 on Sundays.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets available.

 
 

Sundays...

 


SundayWEC


Our 10:30am service is simple and informal and normally runs for just over an hour. People wear anything from T-shirts to suits. You are welcome to bring kids of any age. 
 
We do the following:
  • Share news – because we’re a family.
  • Sing – because we love God.
  • Confess sin – because we don’t want to pretend, we’re anything but people in need of grace.
  • Look at the Bible – because that’s how we listen to God.
  • Pray – to ask God for his help.
  • We might have a baptism or take the Lord’s supper - to celebrate Jesus’ rescue.
  • We have coffee afterwards - to take real time together.


What about my kids?


kids

We love having the noise of lively children – so don’t worry!   They stay for the first 15 minutes of the service and then head to some excellent groups.  (Link to Itab) Creche (0-3), 4-10s group, and 11-15s group.   Older teens stay in the service.

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for the welcome, songs and notices. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. At the end of the notices someone will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups. 

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games, and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team. 
 
 
 

More than a Sunday...

 

While Sundays are a fantastic way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our pastoral groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet during the week, some daytime, and some evenings. 

 
kidslogo Kid’s club (£1 per child)
Reception to year 6
Wednesday 6-7pm, term time
Lots of fun. Bible stories. Hide and seek. Sports. Tuck shop!
 
Toddler Group Toddler group (£1 entry)
Wednesday 10-11.15am, term time.
Toys, craft, and songs. A chance for parents to meet and chat and have a cup of coffee.
 
Youth Youth group (£1 entry)
School years 7-11
Wednesday 7.30pm, term time.
Lots of fun. Opportunities to ask questions about the Christian faith. Games, trips to the beach, camping and much more!
 
senior Older people’s group
Tuesday fortnightly, 10.30am.
Hymns, prayer, Bible talk, coffee, and biscuits. A great place for friendship - all welcome.
 
coffee Cafe in the church
1st and 3rd Saturdays, 10am-12.
Free coffee and cake. Kids toys. A friendly space.
 
 

Contact us with any questions...

 
 
If you have any questions or would like to know more details about the church or our activities, please complete the form below.
 
Name:
Telephone:
Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary.