Volunteers' Week, which runs from 7 to 11 June, is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering in their communities.
As part of the Diocese's marking of the week, the Bishop of Tonbridge, the Rt Rev Simon Burton-Jones shared a message of thanks for the contribution that volunteers make to the life of their churches and communities.
In a short video message, he said that their contribution was deeply appreciated' and that volunteers are the 'super glue' that help keep churches and communities together.
Watch his message or read it in full below:
"The great American philosopher, Homer Simpson, once said, "Do you know, volunteering is for suckers. So-called volunteers don't even get paid?"
What Homer may have missed along the way is the great sense of fulfillment that people find from offering their lives to others, giving themselves freely to people and to their communities without expecting any financial pay in return.
And often, people can use a different set of skills to the ones that they use in their workplace when they are volunteering.
This is not an easy moment for volunteers because we know that, since the pandemic, across society and also inside the church, people are volunteering less frequently. So, if you are volunteering, I want to say a really big 'thank you' to you for all that you are doing within your church and in the wider community.
It is deeply appreciated and in so many ways, it makes you the super glue that keeps us together in our churches and in our communities. And you are, in doing so, fulfilling that model of Jesus who said, he came not to be served but to serve.
Thank you once again for all that you are doing."
Bishop Simon Burton-Jones
June 2023