Drink the Juice!

I love CrossFit. 

I know that some say CrossFit is a cult, or that people are encouraged to push themselves to the point of injury. Some say that if you love it that you “drank the juice.” But here’s what I know: CrossFit is built on community—no one works out alone, and an improvement is an improvement, no matter the increase. When you think you can’t push yourself for one more moment, there will be someone cheering you on, reminding you that you are capable and you can do it!

On top of the 6 a.m. workouts, learning about the lives of the people there with me, celebrating their successes in and outside of the gym, and getting in shape at the same time feeds my soul. The community also gathers to celebrate holidays and special CrossFit events. Oh, and food…. CrossFit people love a good BBQ or potluck!

Sounds a bit like church, doesn’t it? Gathering regularly in community at specific times for holidays and other special dates, honing our spiritual muscles, supporting one another, sharing our gifts of encouragement, emotional support, friendship, and food. Building routines and life around the times that we have committed to being together, whether in workout or worship. 

One of the great things about belonging to a community is that you all work together towards a similar goal. While CrossFit works on a fee-for-service funding model, other community groups, churches included, operate under a voluntary donation-based funding model. They rely on the consistent, free-will offerings of their members to fund operations, staff salaries, and community outreach. 

We rely on many things to be in place so that we are able to engage with one another on Thursday at Bible study or choir practice, or Wednesday for a Boy Scouts meeting, or Monday for the Alcoholics Anonymous gathering. Or to gather and be centered on the thing that links us all together in the first place—worshipping God. 

The reality is that the community space does not exist on wishes and prayers alone, and while the elevator maintenance people enjoy the cookies and coffee that you offer them, they still expect their bill to be paid. This is where our offerings come in. Imagine what would happen if we were no longer able to support so many people in the community by having space for them to meet? For people who are lonely to have coffee on a Tuesday morning? For us to gather and pray, to praise and worship? 

Included in that prayer and praise is a call to add giving to our regular spiritual practices. In giving comes hope; hope for continuing what is; hope for growing into what could be; hope for the continued sharing of the Good News!

As you enjoy the comradery and support that you receive from the people and programs of your community of faith, as you rely on the opportunity to worship and pray in community to help you make it through the week, how can you be more intentional about your giving? How can you reinforce your spiritual practice of giving? 

Could you:

• Sign up for PAR? 
• Increase your giving amount?
• Commit and make a Planned Legacy Gift to your community of faith when you are gone?
• Join your church’s Stewardship Committee?

We all have something to give.

We rely on the cross to keep spiritually fit (see what I did there?). Let us work together to intentionally and habitually flex our spiritual muscles while supporting one another as a community of believers. 

Drink the juice—in this case, the communion juice! Oh, and bring something for the potluck too!

—Rev. Sarah Giles is Community of Faith Stewardship Support Staff for the Prairies, Alberta, and British Columbia, at the United Church General Council Office

The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.