GREENFIELD — Leaves and branches poked out of the black plastic trash bags dotting the sidewalk. Nearby, Brent Rose used a blower to clear smaller clipping debris from the walkway into Maxwell Intermediate School.
He was part of a group from Park Chapel Christian Church helping out at the school on a recent Saturday afternoon by trimming, weeding and spreading mulch, just days before classes began for the 2021-22 school year. Groups like it were completing tasks at various sites around the community as part of the church’s Serve XP.
He said as a landscaper, it was rewarding to offer his skills and give back to the community.
“I just like being part of so many church members at so many sites,” he said. “After a dark and gloomy 2020, it’s a chance for us all to get out and give back.”
Elsewhere on the school campus, incoming Maxwell fifth-grader Mia Brinkruff weeded a flowerbed of sedum with Jim Brinkruff, Stephanie Roberts and Adam Ward.
“This is my school, so it’s nice that it’s getting cleaned up,” Mia said.
A few miles north of Maxwell, Glen Root was dipping a paintbrush to touch up the fence lining the entrance to Eden Elementary School. Working with wife Tammy and daughters Amber and Kathryn, he hoped their work would lighten the load for Greenfield-Central staff.
“We’ve tried to instill in the girls being able to help out and being a member of the community,” he said.
Amber Root, about to begin her senior year of college, said it was nice to do the work together as a family.
“It all fits with helping people,” she said. “It’s fulfilling.”
For years, the church has had a Serve Day on a Saturday morning in July or, before that, September. Then in 2020, as with so many annual events, Serve Day didn’t take place amid COVID-19 distancing.
As the 2021 event approached, a group began meeting to envision what it should be.
“What we decided was to take serve day and extend it over the course of a week,” Lance Conway, director of adult discipleship, said to the congregation during a kickoff for Serve XP in the July 18 services. He talked about de-emphasizing a day or week as the time to serve but cultivating a mindset of service.
This year, the Serve experience also included times to pray together at Riley Park, Hope Center Indy and Greenfield-Central High School. An expanded time slot for community service projects meant teams were out working in morning or afternoon shifts July 24, as well as some out working the evening of July 23. An outdoor celebration and meal followed services on Sunday.
Rob Young quipped that those out weeding, mulching and painting walked into the service more slowly on Sunday.
He was part of a team that pulled weeds, trimmed bushes and spread mulch at Greenfield-Central’s administration building on north street and the district’s Educational Services Center south of Greenfield-Central High School.
“I was reminded what a wonderful group of fellow believers we have here,” he said. “The results were tangible and immediate. It was rewarding. …
“I think the whole community is full of opportunities for any and all churches to find a place to serve locally. We all enjoy supporting ministries abroad … we should also be as eager to serve our community locally.”
