by Rev. Jennifer Burns, Associate Pastor of Shepherd of the Hills

On Sunday, August 18th, over a dozen people representing a diversity of ages and races, showed up at Long Beach Rescue Mission with one purpose: to serve. These “Worker Bees” meet once a month for “Servant Sunday.” For a couple of hours, they serve wherever they are needed, and in the end they close with an optional brief prayer & Communion led by Rev. Melinda Dodge. 

Dodge serves as the Pastor of Community and Connection for Being the Church Long Beach, a collaboration of four UMCs in Long Beach. The collaboration includes Belmont Heights United Methodist Church, California Heights United Methodist Church, Grace on Third, and Los Altos United Methodist Church. Together, they open their arms wide to welcome those who might not feel comfortable in one of their traditional churches and to let the Spirit of God move them together out into the community. 

While this Sunday morning ministry is a leap of faith for traditional congregations, Dodge reminds the partner churches that these Worker Bees are often those who are not otherwise attending Sunday morning worship anywhere. People in our community long to serve, and will often encounter Christ by serving alongside one another in ways they otherwise might not. 

Other powerful ministries of Being the Church include Everyone’s Inn (a Wednesday dinner church), Groundlings Summer Daycamp (for Elementary & Middle Schoolers), and Spirit Pub (a fun-spirited, open-minded discussion group).