Why I Serve? by Maggie Cole
I’ve been in service to this community for over 30 years. Many many times, I went over board via a belief that in order to be allowed on the planet and set my feet on this earth, I am supposed to work hard. Needless to say, this is a false belief.
In assisting in a class decades ago, a student shared something with me after I had told a story of my hard work belief. She said, “you could sit on a rock for the rest of your life and you would be essential to this universe.” This statement changed my life. I continue to serve and I have learned to ask myself, is this mine to do?
For decades, I have participated on Sunday Evenings, from drumming with Tom McCurry and Ron Atchison when Ruth Barnhart facilitated her prayer service. I spoke there for many years when other people had taken over.
About 10 years ago, Rev. Joyce asked me if I would like to do a Sunday Evening, as everybody else had moved on. I said yes, as I had spoken in many churches in years past, even ours, and had taught classes, workshops, retreats, and was comfortable in front of a room. At that point I had no idea it would evolve into what it is now.
Over the past 8 years, there has been an evolution, with a Sunday Evening Service Team, whose personnel has changed over time. It has evolved from a “Service” to a new format, Sunday Evening Conversations, as my feeling is that everyone wants to be seen and heard.
This offering has expanded over these years and continues to thrive during this pandemic and the era of zoom. We have become a close family, coming together every week with facilitators who come with a topic and questions and engage all of us in conversation. Many people have said, this is the place in our Center where they feel seen, heard, and connected in this community.
Why do I serve? There’s a saying that we teach what we need to learn, I have found that to be true. Most of my life, I didn’t feel seen, heard, valued, no one interested in who I was or what I had to say. Now, I have the honor and privilege to offer this gift to this community. I am continually fed and expanded by those who come to take part and give the gift of their presence and perspective, their heart and feelings is a safe and trusting atmosphere.
It offers me the opportunity to serve with a team, to create ideas, to respond in real-time to what is alive in people, and to give back to a community that saved my life.
I believe service is different than volunteering. I have done both. For me, volunteering was filling a slot (Rev. Edward taught me that), service is about spiritual evolution. I am evolving through my service in Sunday Evening Conversations and offering my prayers following the morning service. I have found my call for this time in my life. I am highly blessed to do what I love, serve the community, the gift of witnessing others, and being fed in a myriad of ways.
For all of you who may be considering service to this community. I invite you to consider the possibility that in whatever way you are called to serve, be sure that as you give your time and energy, in whatever way, you too are being served as well. One more thing, when asked, you are allowed to say “NO”.
I am blessed to have worked with team members, Sherry Vierra, Marielle Taylor, Elias Owens, Peggy Weber, and Tara Steele, along with facilitators Rev. Josephine Smith, Megan Rooney, and Krista McAtee. I want to thank the Practitioners who have served us over the years as platform Practitioners and praying for all those who pray following the service.
Love and blessings,
Maggie Cole, RScPE
I’ve been in service to this community for over 30 years. Many many times, I went over board via a belief that in order to be allowed on the planet and set my feet on this earth, I am supposed to work hard. Needless to say, this is a false belief.
In assisting in a class decades ago, a student shared something with me after I had told a story of my hard work belief. She said, “you could sit on a rock for the rest of your life and you would be essential to this universe.” This statement changed my life. I continue to serve and I have learned to ask myself, is this mine to do?
For decades, I have participated on Sunday Evenings, from drumming with Tom McCurry and Ron Atchison when Ruth Barnhart facilitated her prayer service. I spoke there for many years when other people had taken over.
About 10 years ago, Rev. Joyce asked me if I would like to do a Sunday Evening, as everybody else had moved on. I said yes, as I had spoken in many churches in years past, even ours, and had taught classes, workshops, retreats, and was comfortable in front of a room. At that point I had no idea it would evolve into what it is now.
Over the past 8 years, there has been an evolution, with a Sunday Evening Service Team, whose personnel has changed over time. It has evolved from a “Service” to a new format, Sunday Evening Conversations, as my feeling is that everyone wants to be seen and heard.
This offering has expanded over these years and continues to thrive during this pandemic and the era of zoom. We have become a close family, coming together every week with facilitators who come with a topic and questions and engage all of us in conversation. Many people have said, this is the place in our Center where they feel seen, heard, and connected in this community.
Why do I serve? There’s a saying that we teach what we need to learn, I have found that to be true. Most of my life, I didn’t feel seen, heard, valued, no one interested in who I was or what I had to say. Now, I have the honor and privilege to offer this gift to this community. I am continually fed and expanded by those who come to take part and give the gift of their presence and perspective, their heart and feelings is a safe and trusting atmosphere.
It offers me the opportunity to serve with a team, to create ideas, to respond in real-time to what is alive in people, and to give back to a community that saved my life.
I believe service is different than volunteering. I have done both. For me, volunteering was filling a slot (Rev. Edward taught me that), service is about spiritual evolution. I am evolving through my service in Sunday Evening Conversations and offering my prayers following the morning service. I have found my call for this time in my life. I am highly blessed to do what I love, serve the community, the gift of witnessing others, and being fed in a myriad of ways.
For all of you who may be considering service to this community. I invite you to consider the possibility that in whatever way you are called to serve, be sure that as you give your time and energy, in whatever way, you too are being served as well. One more thing, when asked, you are allowed to say “NO”.
I am blessed to have worked with team members, Sherry Vierra, Marielle Taylor, Elias Owens, Peggy Weber, and Tara Steele, along with facilitators Rev. Josephine Smith, Megan Rooney, and Krista McAtee. I want to thank the Practitioners who have served us over the years as platform Practitioners and praying for all those who pray following the service.
Love and blessings,
Maggie Cole, RScPE
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