God’s love in our midst was tangible this past week.  The love and care you continue to extend to one another at time of loss and crisis is remarkable.  I was continually blessed as I witnessed Christ’s love reaching out to the Morgan family through all of you.

For many churches the love and concern for others stops with those who are part of the congregation.  But, not for you.  On Sunday we had a special visitor in our midst.  Many you first noticed Tom as you pulled into the church parking lot as he was sitting out on our front lawn leaning up against our sign.  He was not the cleanest of men, he was holding a sign “Homeless Please Help God Bless”.

What happened next was a true testimony to the love of Christ in our midst.  Tom was greeted with friendly smiles, words of compassion and invitations to join us for worship.

Upon the insistence of one of our Elders, Tom came in and joined us for worship.  Once in the building he people continued to extended Christian friendship, love and concern.  Tom was offered help and the promise that after worship we would get him connected to the help he needed.

From the Table, I revealed to the congregation that Tom was planted in our midst to be an example of “the least and the lost.”  Tom is not homeless, but a friend of Tina Yarber and Mary Bob Powers.  He shared with me that everyone showed genuine concern and extended Christ-like friendship.  He felt welcomed and part of our faith community.

Thank you for being the congregation Christ has called us to be!

with love,  Laureen 🙂

This Sunday (May 11) the children and youth of the congregation will lead us in worship.  As I look ahead to rehearsal on Saturday and worship on Sunday, I am struck that I have been involved with Youth Sundays for over 30 years.  Since the time I was a teenager and participating my first Youth Sundays and later as a youth leader and now as pastor, Youth Sundays have been part of my worship rhythm.  These worship services are unique and always filled with moments of anxiousness and joy!  One thing is for certain… God will move through these young people and my spirit will be touch and filled.

Recently a young man who I had in youth group in the late ’90s shared on Facebook his senior message from the year 2000.  He was marveling at how much Youth Sunday and sharing his faith with his church family has affected his walk with God.  For 30+ years I have been witness to seniors sharing their message of faith, hope and love.  For 30+ years, I have been blessed to see God’s light through these young lives.  They renew hope, renew life, renew spirit in our midst.  Another thing that is for certain… God is still moving in our world through our young people.

This year, I’m looking forward to praising God and experiencing youth-filled LIGHT!  Experience has taught me that this is time each year is a key component to my worship rhythm.  What is key to your worship rhythm?  Think about that.  It is these rhythms that help move us closer to God.  Whether your worship rhythm includes sacred hymns from your childhood or scriptures you know by heart, these are important to acknowledge.  Keep these close to your heart.  At the same time, it is important to open your worship rhythm to experience new tempos and cadences.  Embrace them like a child.  Worship rhythms need to move us and groove us.  If all they do is soothe us like a lullaby, then we risk falling asleep in our worship and devotion to God.

I pray we can all take a cue from our children and youth, and celebrate God and Jesus Christ with passion, rhythm and a little boogie, woogie.

with love, Laureen 🙂