Why I Love My Work - Every Employee Every Community Hours

It's been a while since I've had a Why I Love My Work entry, but today was a good reminder to make one.  I started this series because wanted to write about the things I love about my work.  Reminders of the positive, the blessings we have in life, the things to be truly grateful for.  And there are many, many reasons why I love what I do right now and the company that I work for.  Here I'd like to focus on one benefit of working for such a large company.

One of these benefits is the community oriented focus the company can have.  At Level 2, I previously headed the charitable giving initiative, running the nomination process within the company, so that employees could nominate worthy causes for grant funding awarded annually.

At Cummins, the focus is more on direct involvement.  While the company does make substantial financial donations, they also work to enable every employee to be able to volunteer and donate their time in their community.  One such way is through EEEC hours or Every Employee Every Community hours.  Put succinctly, the company allows and encourages and enables every employee to do four hours of community service each year on the clock during their working hours.

This means you can and are encouraged to find a place to volunteer and it will be factored in as a part of your day.  It's not something you have to find time for in your off time.  And Cummins also has a list of organizations and opportunities to partner with.  

Today, I took part in a volunteer organization I've taken part in for the past two years, teaching technology literacy to fifth graders at a local elementary school. We teach editing a presentation using copy, paste, rotate, and resize.  Creating a folder and moving documents within it.  Internet safety.  Making screen shots and snippets.  Using spreadsheets and other computer tools.

The past two years were virtual and this year we finally got to get back in the classroom.  It went so much smoother.  We were able to keep their attention and get them all involved in working through the practice steps.  

It was truly a wonderful experience and I'm glad to be a part of it.  I'm glad Cummins provides me this opportunity - because otherwise, I don't know if I would have found it.  I don't know that I would have chosen it for myself if it wasn't presented as an option through the company. 

It's something small, at least in terms of all the work I do for Cummins.  But I am ever grateful for it.

Why I Love My Church CPCC 2: Community Garden

From connectionpointe.org

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat..."

Matthew 25:35a

I haven't written in this series a lot recently and wanted to pick it up again to write about our new church home, Connection Pointe Christian Church in Brownsburg, Indiana.  The series was started to write on special Sundays and outline reasons I love the church we are attending.  

It can be very easy to focus on the negative in anything we do.  To point out everything we would change, every little problem we have.  Everything that doesn't make us happy.  All too often, we focus on those aspects to the exclusion of all that we have been blessed with.

And please do not misunderstand me, I love a lot of things about Connection Pointe.  I love the staff, I love the intentionality that everything is done with, I love the biblical foundation, I love the people.  The foresight to start an online ministry a year before the pandemic.  Everything listed probably does not get enough recognition.  

But this series will not initially focus on those aspects.  To start this series is going to focus on those really unique, standout things our church does, including a few things that I would love to see other churches do as well.

Today, I learned about Connection Pointe's community garden.  And I think this is an amazingly great idea for any church.  The church campus has the blessing of size and of land, so a portion of the land in the northeast corner has been set aside as a community garden, to grow food to donate to local schools, food banks, and elderly care.  

I've seen the space in the back and thought it was likely for a garden, but never knew its impact until the bumper today.  Such a great opportunity for everyone to serve, whether they have a green thumb or not, by pitching in and literally helping grow the food that can have such a tangible impact on the community.  

Community gardens have existed for ages, and have had their surges in popularity, from the Victory Gardens during the world wars, to the current resurgences helping to offset America's "food deserts."  It's so inspiring to see a church joining in that effort.  To not only provide food, but to provide fresh food.  Fresh fruits and vegetables.  

Such a simple but profound way to demonstrate God's love to a community by meeting such a basic need.  "Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen:  to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke,  to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?  Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"  Isaiah 58:6-7.

And it's such a great idea that aligns with the interests and service areas of most churches.  In most rural suburban churches, I guarantee that you can find people with the time and the interest that are already gardening in their spare time, that would be perfect volunteers for such a community effort.

All it takes is someone to take the charge and lead it.

If you are looking for a church home, to find a place to truly connect and dig in deeper, you can find out more about Connection Pointe here.  We have a great online presence and people joining in from across the country, so it is a great way to start a connection to a church.

If you have a church home, I would ask you what you love about your church.  Could you list the things that you feel your church is really strong in?  And are there areas that you recognize you are being called to serve in?

Why I Love My Church 3 - Movie Night

Continuing in the series of things I love about my church - Movie Night.

Tonight is movie night at the church.  We'll be at Heritage Park in Edgewood, Texas to gather as a united church and watch a movie under the stars. 

We'll gather starting at 7:30 pm for games and fun activities, with the movie starting once  it's good and dark.  There's plenty of space to spread out a blanket, to set up a lawn chair to get ready for the show.

The church is providing hot dogs and popcorn.  Plenty of food to enjoy.

I'm not sure what the movie will be, but it will definitely be family friendly.  In the past, it has been the newest Disney home release.

The Heritage Park is a fun place to be in any instance.  It's an outdoor museum, with a collection of twenty restored buildings representing life in East Texas from the 1800s to the 1920s.

Now, I know this sounds like an odd one to write about for Why I Love My Church, but hear me out.  This goes beyond Jamie and I being movie people.

I love this event because it is so outward facing.  It's an opportunity for the church to give to the community.  For people to bring guests and family to just be loved on.  No ulterior motive, no bait and switch.  No Jesus Juke.  Just a fellowship event where the church gathers together to enjoy spending time with each other and the church pours out on its members and the community.  The church providing free food and a show to whomever comes up.

Now there will be mentions of service times if people would like to come check us out, of other things the church is doing, but they are announcements.  We'll pray, we'll eat, and we'll have a good time.  A get together with the whole family, if you will. 

And it's a perfect time here near Fourth of July celebrations.  A time together broken out of the mold of what we think church is.  A time to be the Church instead of going to "church".

In the early days of Christianity, "church" took up a lot more time than we would assume.   Even more than Sunday morning service, Sunday evening service, Tuesday night prayer service, and Wednesday night devotion.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

This went far beyond the religious activities planned.  The Church hung out together.  They liked being around each other and enjoyed spending time together.  

And it showed to the people around them. Others in the community wanted to be a part of that fellowship.  Of that kind of love.

How is your church doing?  Do the members actually like to be together?  Or do you tolerate each other?

Can you fellowship together and enjoy just spending time and getting to know each other?  You know, I think if we cannot get this right down here, eternity is going to be a very long process.

I hope you have a church home that enjoys fellowship as well as the praise of, worship of, and service to our God.

If you don't and would like to see what Stonepoint is about, come pull up a chair tonight.  If you are interested in more information on the church, check us out at http://www.stonepointchurch.com.