During the weekend of June 2-3, 2007 we told our congregation not to come to Church!  Instead of coming together to celebrate Christ, we worshipped by going out into our community and modeling Jesus’ love through intentional acts of service.   This event began about six months earlier, when the leadership of Southbrook began discussing the need to become more externally focused.  What started as an idea, turned into something larger and more meaningful than what we had ever thought possible.  Over 200 people participated and over 400 hours of service occurred during this inaugural Compassion Weekend.   Southbrook Church partnered with 20 different locations all around Franklin and the greater Milwaukee area, which provided rich and varied opportunities for service.

Our students organized a free car wash on Saturday and Sunday.  Not only did everybody get soaking wet, but they washed over 70 cars and had numerous opportunities to talk with the people getting their cars washed -thanking the car owners for letting us serve them.  We participated in building homes for low-income people through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity.  Those who have a heart for the city went into Milwaukee and served at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission and Joy House –which serves homeless women and their children.  A group brought lunch to Debi Godsey’s Kids in the Hood ministry, while another group picked up garbage with Pastor Ryan LaTour and his new Mosaic Milwaukee Church -located on Milwaukee’s South side.  Our Children’s Ministry served the elderly through singing and spending time with the residents at a local nursing home; while our Women’s Choir used their beautiful voices and sang with residents of a local Alzheimer’s Care Facility.

We wanted to go and serve our community where they were at, so we set up tables in front of the local Sentry and gave out free hotdogs, coffee and bottled water.  We set up stations where we handed out free bottled water and dog treats for those walking their dogs along the Oak Leaf walking/biking trail in Franklin.  A group of painters went to the Franklin Police Department and helped to paint their Shoot House, while another group went to a local Martial Arts Studio, painting the lobby for the owners.  Many families went to the local parks and picked up garbage, helping to keep the parks and walking trails clean and safe.  Finally, our Compassion Weekend wrapped up with our annual church picnic. The Franklin Fire and Police Departments joined us at the picnic and brought along their Hook and Ladder Fire Truck and a Police Motorcycle.

For Southbrook, this will be more then a once a year event.  It is our desire to incorporate service opportunities into the fabric of our church.   In the future our Small Groups, Adult Education Classes, Youth Group and Children’s Ministries will be creating and performing their own service opportunities.  We look forward to following Jesus’ example of humbly showing compassion, and are planning now for Compassion Weekend.