070429 Acts 9:36-43 Post Easter Resurrection

Just about every Tuesday breakfast and Friday lunch Dexter is a place where people like the friends of Dorcas meet to eat and enjoy each other’s fellowship. 301 Club on Friday nights gives us clean fun and dancing – full of enthusiastic greetings and reverberating dance music. It takes members and volunteers to make this community swing. The talents of many workers and financial contributors over a six month period made it possible to unselfishly revive an “as-good-as-dead” kitchen into a new center to feed our hungry community members.
Without fanfare, you have made sure that we can renew our efforts to feed the community and provide meals as our service to God. Your testimony of giving is not going unnoticed by those who share in Dexter’s fellowship of nourishment.
By keeping this house of worship and its many services like the kitchen open and operational with love, comfort, and food, you have become kitchen angels who share your faith in the true spirit of the gospel, without expectations or recognition. The Lord will recognize you by preparing a place for you at the banquet table set for all those who labor in God's love.
What do a metal worker, someone who sets gems, someone who is skillful with a needle, and someone who builds well have in common? They all had the talents needed to help build the tabernacle -- the movable worship center -- when the people of Israel were living in the Sinai wilderness. Maureen Baird of California says that it is really important how skillfully you or I hammer a nail or sew a straight seam. In fact, it’s such a big deal that the Bible honors two craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab, for all of eternity. Exodus 31:1-11 says: GOD spoke to Moses: “See what I’ve done; I’ve personally chosen Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur of the tribe of Judah. I’ve filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood—he’s an all-around craftsman.
“Not only that, but I’ve given him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, to work with him. And to all who have an aptitude for crafts I’ve given the skills to make all the things I’ve commanded you: the Tent of Meeting, the Chest of The Testimony and its Atonement-Cover, all the implements for the Tent, the Table and its implements, the pure Lampstand and all its implements, the Altar of Incense, the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering and all its implements, the Washbasin and its base, the official vestments, the holy vestments for Aaron the priest and his sons in their priestly duties, the anointing oil, and the aromatic incense for the Holy Place—they’ll make everything just the way I’ve commanded you.”
And because of the New Testament’s words that we read earlier, Dorcas will be praised forever as a woman who helped others with her sewing ability.
Our talents are more than useful skills. They are gifts from God. And just like those named in the Bible, we can use our talents to serve the Lord and others. When you helped us rebuild our kitchen, it was just as significant as building a Habitat for Humanity home for the poor, landscaping or cleaning up the church’s grounds, or volunteering at a local relief mission or food bank. We can continue to help in those other ways or in repairing the home of an elderly person or a single mother.
Dear Heavenly Father, bless us with the wisdom, insight and vigilant service to use our talents like Dorcas, Bezalel or Oholiab, to honor You. Thank you for enabling us to do good works and support healthy and enjoyable fellowship here at Dexter and where ever we may be - In the precious name of Jesus Christ who is still in the business of building and rebuilding lives, Amen.