Celebrating Volunteers at Trinity | National Volunteer Week | Trinity Talks Podcast

Well, good morning, guys.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm really excited to have you joining me on Trinity Talks today because today marks

the beginning of National Volunteer Week here in Canada.

So we have Liz, we have Bruce, and we have Chris, all of whom volunteer here at Trinity.

And I'm really glad to have you on the show with me today.

Great to be here.

Yes.

Thank you.

So, according to National Volunteer Week in Canada, a volunteer is someone who gives their

time, their skills, their empathy, and their creativity.

And it is vital to the inclusivity and the strength of a community.

And we were just talking a little bit before we started the show about how important the

volunteers are here to the general life of our church.

But before we get started, I would love to get to know you guys a little bit better.

And we were talking before the show in the sermon about the Bible.

And one way that Rob described the Bible is a library.

So when you go to the library, I'm curious, or in your home, your bookshelf, what kind

of books do you reach for?

I love to read detective fiction.

Yes.

I read quite broadly, but I like something that sort of just takes me, sucks me in.

And my goal is to solve the crime before the author reveals it.

And do you ever solve the crime?

Yeah, once in a while.

It depends.

Detective Liz.

All right.

So we know what your next calling will be, Detective Liz.

What about you, Bruce?

Yeah, I like reading spy novels.

Okay.

Yeah.

Some Christian novels as well, but I get wrapped up in a spy novel.

All right.

Little suspense perhaps?

Little suspense, yeah.

Nice.

I like bad guys, bad guys and good guys.

Yeah.

Love it.

I love it.

What about you, Chris?

Are you a reader?

Yeah.

I mean, I like to read books.

I find that I don't do it enough.

But when I broke my knee about a year ago, though, I spent the entire, pretty much two

months just reading nonstop.

And I just got back into all the books I hadn't read in a long time.

I found new authors, new series.

It was pretty good.

But mostly just like a fictional kind of fantasy novel.

Those are usually pretty good.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's fun.

You can imagine it yourself.

It's like kind of nice to be able to put yourself in the book or like you're watching a movie

almost.

Yeah.

So that sounds like a little silver lining to a broken knee story.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's all right.

We'll look at the glass half full there.

Two months vacation.

Why not?

All right.

So Liz, you are not only a volunteer here at Trinity, but you are also our stewardship

director.

Needless to say, you probably know just a little bit about giving and volunteering here

is really all about giving.

What is the theme of this year's National Volunteer Week?

It's a great theme, I think.

It's every moment matters.

And to me, that sort of reinforces how, you know, whatever we do in a volunteer role, whether

it's something that we think is huge and great and special or out in front of everybody or

whether it's behind the scenes, what we're doing as volunteers matters for us collectively

as a community and for people who are at the receiving end of our volunteer efforts.

That's a really good point.

So Liz, why do you think volunteers more specifically are important to the life here at our church?

Well, the reality is, I mean, we have a small staff and we do a lot of things as a church

and virtually anything that we do at church, whether it's within the walls of the building

or it's out in the community, it would not happen without volunteers.

And Rob was saying in the sermon earlier, we have 289 people and those are different

people and some of those are volunteer in multiple ministries, but who are actively

involved in volunteering.

And without them, there would just be no way we would even begin to have any kind of impact

in the kind that we have.

For sure.

Wow.

And when you say at 289, that is not an insignificant number by any means.

No, not at all.

I was really surprised when I, you know, sort of cobble together that number because, you

know, in church on a Sunday morning, we see there's only certain volunteer that we see

people who are maybe up on the platform, you know, leading music or at the door greeting

or ushers, you know, that sort of thing.

But there are so many ministries that are not seen, they're behind the scenes work,

they're sort of quiet ministries, you know, maybe like Stephen ministry or the meal train

that all happens behind the scenes and we have really no idea who those volunteers are.

No, but just strengthens the life.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

So, Chris, you're one of our volunteers here.

You're one of the 289.

So how do you find yourself currently being an active volunteer at the church?

So right now I work as a camera operator in the general live stream.

Right.

Yeah, I'm mostly just been doing that most of this time because I thought, you know,

I need to get back to the church somehow, you know, and need to get involved in it.

It's something I enjoy doing.

Right.

So it's a very physical kind of thing that I like, you know, and I have a sort of a hobby,

I guess you say photography.

So something to expand on to.

So in your work life, you're not a photographer or a videographer.

No, not even close.

I'm an electrician.

So it's a little different.

But it's a way for you to exercise your talents and your skills, it seems like, and your passions

outside and then give back.

So if you watch live stream church, if you're ever joining us on YouTube or on Facebook,

and you see some of those camera angles specifically from the back of the church, you can thank

Chris for that because he is quite often the camera guy who is controlling that camera

and you do such a good job at it.

I think sometimes I wonder, you know, it's great.

And in fact, we actually get a lot of compliments on the production of the church service.

And so we can thank you for that because you do bring a lot of talent to that.

Now, Bruce, you yourself are also actively volunteering here at Trinity.

What does that look like?

Yeah.

So I work in the cemetery committee and help beautify the grounds outside.

And I also work in the kitchen for coffee hour on Sundays.

OK, which is happening right now behind us.

Which is happening right now.

Yeah.

We made the coffee and tea and got it all set up.

It takes an hour to do.

Right.

Yep.

And you don't do that either.

Right.

And that's where a lot of the great conversations happen.

That's right.

So what led you to serve Trinity in those two ways?

Both are quite different.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, both were friends that I've developed in Trinity over the years.

And I just wanted to help out.

And I gravitated to the kitchen where my friends were and began to help out.

And with the cemetery, I was talking to another friend and I said, I know how to do all that

stuff that has been done out in the cemetery.

I can do those things.

OK.

And I was directed to the cemetery committee to volunteer, to help volunteer.

That's great.

We were just chatting before that this is not the work that's done out in the cemetery.

It's not something that just anybody could do.

It's actually quite skilled that you're talking about laying stones.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And you said you've done that before.

Yeah.

It's great that you sort of found your fit in that way.

Yes.

Because if I was trying to lay stones, it wouldn't look the same as the way it looks

out there.

Yeah.

Right?

Yeah.

Well, that's good.

And Liz, you're actually on staff here as the stewardship director, but you also do

volunteer work.

That's right.

That's right.

So what does that look like?

So I recently joined the chancel guild, which I'm quite excited about.

It's a beautiful ministry.

And I tend to look at things through a hospitality lens.

And so the chancel guild people are the ones who prepare and get ready for communion and

cleaning up and that kind of thing.

And I always think of it in terms of setting the Lord's table for these people.

And I just love that.

So that's a new endeavor for me.

And I also involve in music ministry and have been from when we, Al and I started here in

2006 years ago.

But within that, I also do run the slides in media.

There was a point a couple of summers back now where there was a gap and they didn't

have anybody to run slides.

And Libby said, can you just learn how to do it?

Someone will sit beside the person who's doing it for a week and then take off.

And I was terrified.

Like, I'm not super techy.

But again, I think it's a hospitable ministry because we're projecting the words on the

screen so people can easily participate in the service.

So I really quite enjoy it.

I love that.

And that's probably something a lot of us, myself included from time to time, take for

granted as just expecting those slides and the words to come up on the screen.

And that someone is there.

So what I'm hearing is like, so Bruce talking about his skills that he's bringing to his

rules.

I hear Chris bringing in some passions.

And then Liz, even when you don't have that skill set, it was really your hospitality

and your willingness to learn.

Then you got to learn some new skills.

So that's pretty exciting stuff.

I have a question more general for everybody here.

And maybe you at home, if you're listening in, can even reflect on this question as well.

But how have you found yourself impacted by the volunteer work here at Trinity?

It's a great question, I think, just to sit back and think about maybe in general in life,

but just specifically here at the church.

Well, for me, I remember when we had our son Alex, who's now 24.

And I was five days in the hospital with him when we got home and we were like so overwhelmed.

And the meal train stepped up to support us for the first couple of weeks that we were

home.

And I mean, I still remember that knock on the door and the first meal dinner that was

delivered by someone actually who was a neighbor around the corner who came to Trinity.

And I'm just like, I was so thankful because it just seemed an impossible thing for me

to do to manage meals and all that sort of thing.

So that impacted me incredibly.

Also I would say the prayer chain.

That's another great one.

There's been so many times in the past number of years, especially when loved ones have

been sick and have passed away and it's been really difficult.

But I could really feel those prayers lifting me up.

And I'm so thankful.

I love that.

I love that.

I love that your thoughts, you've been coming to the church for quite some time, are back

24 years ago.

So it really shows how the impact of volunteering can have these long lasting effects.

It was a cannelloni dinner that came to my door.

You can still taste it.

I can.

Right?

How many meals have we had in our lives?

But you can remember that one.

So that speaks volumes.

Actually get a little goosebumps here.

What about you, Bruce?

I think Libby and her team impacted me in the beginning.

Okay.

Yeah.

And that's a volunteer role, right?

And you know, the music, what the music said to me, it all impacted me when I was new.

And I felt like a part of this community, the Christian community through the music.

Okay.

Yeah.

There's a lot of volunteers who work in our music and worship ministry up there.

Libby's on staff.

Everyone else is a volunteer.

Right.

And you mentioned the words on the screen and I was reading those.

I was literally like taking those to heart.

And it meant something to me.

Yeah.

Right.

It just touched you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Now, Chris, you had a story from when you were a little guy.

Yeah.

I know just when I was very young, I would be cleaning the sanctuary from the downstairs

thing for cleaning maybe once a month or whatever.

And I didn't know where my parents were sitting, but Usher always walked, oh, hey, Chris.

And he walked me over to my parents.

And I never was worried or lost.

So I always remember that one from when I was a kid.

Yeah.

Yeah, Usher's bringing you to your parents.

Perfect.

No, that's really great.

So we have this whole week here that we are actually going to sort of be celebrating.

We're going to have some social media comments.

We have a cake out back.

Why do you think having a week to celebrate volunteers is something of value for our church?

I think it's a good reminder that together we make an impact.

And keeping volunteering and the need for volunteering sort of at the forefront of everybody's

mind and the impact it has and thinking about, well, what would it be like if there was nobody

volunteering?

So it's important to recognize volunteers and to thank them and to tell stories about

the impact that volunteering has individually or us collectively as a congregation.

Thinking about all the Easter activities that we did out in the community.

Right, just a week ago.

150-ish volunteers.

And it would not have happened.

And the impact in the community is huge.

So that's something that I think every day should be volunteer recognition day.

So maybe one week is not enough.

But it's a good start.

And thinking too that it's like organizations, tens of thousands of organizations across

the country use volunteers.

And it's like one of the largest sectors in our country.

And thinking that they together, and we are part of that collective body of volunteers

across the country too.

It's like individually here we're the body of Christ, but we're also a body of national

volunteers.

It's pretty interesting to think about the broader impact of volunteering.

I love thinking about that.

Right.

Yeah.

Thank you.

So how do you think we can, maybe this question's already been answered, but how can we as a

church do a better job at recognizing the volunteers here?

Does anyone have any answers?

Thoughts?

I think it comes back to sort of telling the stories.

So when we're in the church service, if we're talking about an event we're doing or whatever,

whether it's Alpha or Steve ministry or whatever, just talking about this wouldn't be possible.

It wouldn't be possible without volunteers.

And we're so thankful for you.

So there's so many things that go on behind the scenes.

And so telling those stories of what happens behind the scenes in a volunteer capacity

is really important because people can then see themselves maybe in that role as well.

Right.

So it probably has ripple effects.

Yeah, absolutely.

Some might see an opportunity they didn't know actually existed.

Right.

Absolutely.

So it has a ripple effect, right, so that you might start getting ideas.

Yeah.

I love that.

So telling stories is a larger church.

And then I really just appreciated hearing your three stories right here.

So just think if we told more stories, that's a really great idea, Liz.

So lastly, maybe each of you could share a message with everyone listening, what you

would say to someone who might be considering volunteering here at church.

Maybe someone who has never just taken that next step, or maybe someone who's even just

thinking about starting a new role.

I know in September, we have our sign up.

Our ministry fair.

Our ministry fair, where you can sign up to one or two or three ministries and get involved

that way.

So there is that set up so that it's official, we can get in there, make an impact where

we want to fit in, and help out, and be of service to the church, give back to the community,

give back to the church, you know, and enjoy being a part of the church, as opposed to

just sitting there and not getting involved.

Right?

This creates community within the church and friendships.

That's a great word.

Yeah, the creation of community.

And as you mentioned, the official sign up usually happens, I think, second week of September,

sometimes third week of September, our official ministry fair, where all of the ministries

and all of the volunteer opportunities are represented, both online and in person, and

give you that opportunity to sign up.

Yes, thank you for reminding me about that.

Anything else?

I think I would say to someone who's thinking about volunteering, I'd say, like, do it,

explore, come and learn and grow and be blessed and be a blessing.

I'm going to leave it right there because that was really well said.

That was a great synopsis.

And I just want to say thank you to the three of you for taking your time away from the

cake, which I'm hoping there are still three slices left with your names on them because

it looks delicious, and for having this conversation.

And I'm really hoping that someone who is out there found this inspiring as well.

And we'll take the time to hear a story, share a story, or maybe even get involved.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thanks for having us.

Thank you.