Brighten Up Astoria

Community is so important, especially in a world that seems to be at polar opposites in their thinking. And especially when we have opposing views, the way we handle our disagreements is important. But even more is how we can find ways to come together. Finding common ground. Focusing on what we can agree on.
And I think most of us can agree that helping and serving each other is an important part of life. Now, we might have disagreements on what is the best way to help and serve, but we know the benefit of helping others (especially if we remember how we’ve been helped in our life). And with that attitude in mind a new initiative is being planned called ‘Brighten Up Astoria’.
‘Brighten Up Astoria’ is a fairly simple concept. The goal behind it is simply to help our neighbors who have trouble doing some things on their own. It’s those who can help helping those who need a little help. This means that just about everyone can probably be involved. Either you’re someone who could use a hand or someone who can lend a hand.
For this year, on Saturday, April 17th, the goal is to have various crews that will go around town helping out with small jobs at someone’s house. Because of some restrictions still in place, we are planning on small to medium outside jobs that can be done in a couple of hours or less. This might include raking leaves or cleaning out some gutters. It might be trimming some trees or bushes. It might even be some paint being applied to a porch or some repair work to a garage. If it’s a job you can’t do that someone else could help you with, that’s what this is all about.
This also means that we need volunteers to come out and help. Regardless of your ability or know-how, there’s probably a job we can put you on. But the goal is simply to brighten up our community, both physically on our properties, but hopefully, even more, in the faces and hearts of those around us.
The apostle Paul, who himself was cared for well by others, writes to us in Galatians 6.9-10, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Doing good and caring for others can come in lots of different forms, but doing physical work for someone who isn’t able to do it is a fairly simple, straight-forward way to do that.
So, let’s brighten up our community together. I pray you’ll join us in loving and caring for those around us on Saturday, April 17th. God bless.