In the book God Laughs, William Goodwin tells the story of how he once sang in a choir for a short time. And it was a short time because at his 3rd rehearsal he was the only baritone present. Part of the way through the rehearsal, the choir director said to him “Let’s hear the baritone.” So William belted out a verse of the hymn they were practicing. The director then turned to the rest of the choir, and said “let’s try it without the baritone.” Which they did. After practice, the director took William aside. Then she put her arm around him and said, “What this church needs are more ushers.” Which is how William became an usher.
ADVENT SERIES: THE HEART THAT GREW THREE SIZES
Matt Rawle writes “We don’t know why the Grinch hated Christmas. We just know he did.” He then invites people in a book titled “The Heart That Grew Three Sizes” to explore how the story of the Grinch can help us in our journey to Christmas, grow in our faith in difficult times, and find - and share - the light and joy of Christian life no matte what is happing around us. Given where we find ourselves as we move into Advent in 2021, we have many reasons to be a bit “grinchy” ourselves. So we are going to use the theme of “The Heart That Grew Three Sizes” to explore such things. So read the scriptures listed below before worship each week. Ask God to speak to you through them. And then join us in worship each Sunday. And don’t forget to join someone who does not know Jesus, or doesn’t have a church home, to join you!
- Week 1, November 28: When Everything Is Wrong Luke 21:25-36
- Week 2, December 5: When Christmas Isn’t Christmas Luke 3:1-6
- Week 3, December 12: When Light Shines Luke 3:7-18
- Week 4, December 19: When Joy Is Our Song Luke 1:39-45
December 12: When Light Shines
8AM Traditional Service 9:30AM Contemporary Service
December 5: When Christmas Isn’t Christmas
8AM Traditional Service 9:30AM Contemporary Service
November 28: When Everything is Wrong
A few years back, I came down with the flu during Holy Week. But the worst of it hit me on Easter morning. And at my sickest that morning, I remember how everything just seemed wrong. For while in one sense everything seemed normal, at the same time nothing seemed quite right. That is because the sun had come up that morning at just the right time. The birds had begun chirping exactly on cue. And just like every other Sunday morning, there was the sound of cars in the church parking lot and joyful voices as people greeted each other. But as I laid in my bedroom, too sick to even get up, something just seemed wrong about it all. At this time last year, many people felt the same way. Holiday celebrations were cancelled or were so modified they just didn’t seem the same as in years past. Families did not get together like they had just a year prior. And even the lights and sounds of the season seemed muted.