Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody

There is a story told about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job.

Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

It is often said that in the typical church 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people, and that if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.  Whilst this may be true, it is neither healthy nor sustainable, we cannot expect people to continue to do the same jobs indefinitely. Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:27 writes ‘Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body.’  As the body of Christ, we all have our part to play.

One of the images of the church that I like is of a lifeboat, where every person on the boat has a job to do.  On a lifeboat there is no room for idleness, because it’s on a mission to navigate lives stormy waters, and rescue people.  The danger comes when we start treating the church as if it were a cruise ship, on which we can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride whilst others do all the work.

We all have our part to play in the life of the church, whether young and old, married or single, at school, college, working, unemployed, or retired – we can all serve.

Please give consideration as to how you can serve St Martin’s. At our Annual Church Meeting in April we will be looking for a new Church Warden, and people to serve on the Parochial Church Council, as well as three new Deanery Synod Reps.  We will also soon be looking to fill vacancies on the Ministry Team, and need more people to be involved in helping to run the children’s Sunday groups, Messy Church and the Parent and Toddler Group on a Friday morning.  We are also searching for new adult leaders to take over the running St Martin’s Guides group in the autumn.

Don’t just assume ‘Somebody’ will do it, but pray that the right people be found for these various posts, and ask yourself, and God, whether you might be that person.