by Pam Tinsley

On November 1 the Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints’. On All Saints’ we remember all the saints – past, present, and yet-to-come – and well-known and revered saints with a capital S, as well as lesser-known saints. Saints with a capital S include apostles, such as Peter and Paul; the Church fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo and Pope Gregory the Great; or prominent women who shaped the Church, such as Catherine of Siena and Teresa of Avila. Most folks, including non-church folks, can come up with the name of a saint with a capital S.

Last week, on October 25, the Church remembered a lesser-known saint: Dorcas, in Greek – Tabitha, in Aramaic. We learn in Acts that Tabitha was a member of the early Christian community in Joppa, a coastal town of Israel. She was a disciple and was also known for her acts of charity, in particular for making garments and giving them to needy widows. She fell ill and died, and Peter went to see her; prayed over her; and raised her to life.

As I was re-reading the story from Acts, I realized that in the past I’ve always paid more attention to Peter than to Tabitha. After all, Peter not only heals Tabitha, but he raises her from the dead!

However, reading more closely, we hear that Tabitha’s healing isn’t the end of the story. Because of her healing, Tabitha is now able to continue her ministry in daily life – her acts of charity and her work as a seamstress making clothing for the needy. And as she engages in her ministry, she also bears witness to a miraculous healing that can come only from God. It’s pretty easy to recognize the extraordinary contributions to God’s Kingdom that the apostles and saints – with a capital S – have made. But, without God’s lesser-known saints serving as Jesus’ hands and feet in the world, the essential work of the Church can’t be done. In fact, the “Tabithas” of the church – you, me, all of us – are the heart of the Church. Although Tabitha and her ministry as a seamstress may seem ordinary, she’s extraordinary in God’s eyes. We, too, are extraordinary in God’s eyes and our own small acts of service – that is, our ministry – matter, and we just might inspire others!