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Submitted photos.
St. Andrew Presbyterian tried something a bit different one recent Sunday when they encouraged parishioners to not show up for regular worship services. That’s right – don’t come to church on Sunday. Instead, go out into the world and put faith into action throughout Sonoma.
The brainchild of David Irvine, St. Andrew’s director of worship, Faith in Action Sunday is actually a nationwide-program run on one pre-designated Sunday each year. On that day, parishioners across the country take to the streets to spend the day working in their communities. For St. Andrew, it was a bold move that paid-off in ways that are still being calculated.
“The day was an outstanding success. The congregation embraced the idea whole-heartedly and more than 200 people showed up to volunteer at organizations and nonprofits all over the Valley,” said Rich Gantenbein, senior pastor. “People came through, not just in manpower but in donations to the church as well.”
Churches in general live week-to-week on the offerings in the donation plate, St. Andrew is no different and worried that the day-off from regular worship services would dent its coffers. Irvine was convinced that this was the direction in which the church needed to go and proceeded with the proposed Faith in Action day with Gantenbein’s blessing. Both men’s fears were assuaged when a special gift helped offset the loss of regular Sunday donations.
Setting it all in Motion
Before heading out into the community, Irvine contacted local organizations and nonprofits to see where the church’s services were needed and necessary. A veritable slew of opportunities opened up from the Sonoma Community Center at one end of the Valley to Sonoma Charter School at the other … see a complete list in the sidebar. The church organized team leaders and divided the volunteers into groups based on skill level, ability and interest.
The husband and wife team of Mark and Masako Kasulen were leaders for the Sonoma Community Center group where 20 volunteers – ranging in age from seven months to 80-plus years – helped four master gardeners install the center’s new water-wise demonstration garden.
“We had a lot of fun and I think the master gardeners were amazed at the lightening speed with which we accomplished our tasks,” said Kasulen. “As team leaders Masako and I were the organizers, making sure everyone’s time was utilized efficiently. We got a lot done in a short period of time.”
Indeed. The group removed and repotted succulents for later use in the garden. They wielded shovels and pick axes to dig holes large and small. They formed a wheelbarrow brigade to move mountains of topsoil, wood chips and mulch. They even babysat the two infants brought along by parents who wanted to help.
“It was absolutely fabulous. I’ve never seen people work so hard,” said Kathy Swett, executive director of the Sonoma Community Center. “The master gardeners were great and the teamwork was, too. Getting this project off the ground so quickly is truly wonderful.”
Paula Hunter, director of Sonoma Charter School expressed similar sentiments about the work done at her school. About 15 volunteers descended on the building to paint, sand picnic tables and refurbish a mural painted on an outdoor wall. Others pulled weeds and used electric weed whackers to clear brush, filling 20 bags with debris for recycling at the dump.
“Now the sun just shines on our mural,” said Hunter. “The whole effort was a huge help for our school.”
Volunteers on the city’s bike path painted benches to which Public Works Director Milenka Bates said the group “was of great assistance to the city.”
Other volunteers painted a fence at Hanna Boys Center, did electrical work at the Valley of the Moon Teen Center, knitted and crocheted for the Children’s Cancer Community, organized the kitchen at St. Leo’s, visited with patients in the skilled nursing wing of Sonoma Valley Hospital and much, much more.
When the work was finished, volunteers gathered back at the church for a celebration complete with light refreshments, a slide show, stories about the day and an offering collection. The slide show was received with round after round of applause.
Planning Ahead
Mark Kasulen, team leader at the Sonoma Community Center felt Sunday’s service was a subtle way to invite people to come and checkout what St. Andrew’s is all about. “With religion, you have three main groups: those who are eager about their faith, those who could care less and everyone in the middle. Faith in Action Sunday was a way to experience the realm of faith as Jesus intended when He said, ‘Go out into the world and do my work.’ We took it literally and did just that,” said Kasulen.
The day was such a success that Gantenbein and Irvine have planned next year’s Faith in Action event. Following the lead of the Faith in Action Web site: putyourfaithinaction.org, they’ve set the date for Oct. 10, 2010, when 100s of churches across the country will again use their hands and feet to do good work in their communities. “We’re hoping other churches in Sonoma will join us in the future,” said Irvine.
St. Andrew offered its services at the following organizations:
Brown Baggers
Children’s Cancer Community
City of Sonoma – Bike Paths
Hanna Boys Center
La Luz/Vineyard Workers
Med-Share
Shoeboxes
Sonoma Community Center
Sonoma Overnight Support
Sonoma Valley Hospital
Sonoma Valley School District
Sonoma Valley Youth Soccer
Valley of the Moon Teen Center
Women’s Cancer Awareness Group
