It is rare Sunday afternoon that doesn't have some pressure or schedule ticking away at it. If there is a nap, it has to happen between 1:35 and 2:10, and who has what to go to? when? How will you get there and when will you be back...but today I am free...to nap when I want, hang out, read blogs and write in this one.
As a great treat, Zach came upstairs (the basement is his man-cave) and he had heard a Cat Stevens song in a movie and was asking about it. We got into the "archives" of our CD collection and found one of his "greatest hits" albums I have, which led to Sweet Honey and the Rock, James Taylor, and all other 70's-80's music I've got. What a great blessing to share this music with my son and for him to enjoy it and find my adolesence mixed with his. It was a moment of peace and perspective that I will hold onto for awhile. Thank you God.
Sarah is on Trailhike. An annual trip for the new 9th graders in our congregation. A "right of passage" I suppose. A time to form community, build relationships - (may I add, get past petty dramas) and behold the beauty of God's creation. She is in my prayers this afternoon as she is as far away as she has ever been and as out of my grasp as she has every been. Fly little butterfly, fly!
May you have a great Sunday afternoon too!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
What Is This Spirit?
I am still being inspired by the Sunday worship we shared with Washington Metropolitan AMEZ church. Yes the music was wonderful, and the preaching top notch, but that isn't all that I continue to celebrate. It was the spirit of joy and compassion and fellowship that was genuinely present among us that day.
For me personally there was a freedom in my soul that I haven't felt in a long while. One that allowed me to dance or raise my hands in praise without a sense of being self conscious. I was able to pray from the depths of my heart and was led by the Spirit as to what to say to all those gathered at the cross. And yet...
I continue to find a newness in my preaching that I don't know where it comes from except God above. A willingness to step out of my comfort zone and my manuscript and simply lead in a thought. For this highly introverted person, that is a big one!
And this weekend I find it spreading to my family. There was a gospel sing at Adam's St. Nursing Home. Mark did not remember in time to assemble any kind of group, but Zach and Sarah had worked up a song for camp and so he asked them to do it for the folks. Zach complained pretty much the whole morning that they were the only young people there, and that he was giving his Saturday away for...this?! Zach and Sarah sang well and were praised to be "the future."
But that isn't where it ends, there were multiple choirs from several Missionary Baptist churches around and they sang from their toes and led us all in moments of worship. The most wonderful were acapella solos of "How Great Thou Art" and "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" At the end of which were standing O's...but Zach and Sarah also were part of the voices saying amen and thank you Jesus. As we headed back to the car, Zach said: "I take back all my grumblings...it was worth it all."
So I am getting reacquainted with the Spirit of God that breaks down walls and stretches us to new places and kneads the clay of our hearts into new creations.
Thank you Jesus!
For me personally there was a freedom in my soul that I haven't felt in a long while. One that allowed me to dance or raise my hands in praise without a sense of being self conscious. I was able to pray from the depths of my heart and was led by the Spirit as to what to say to all those gathered at the cross. And yet...
I continue to find a newness in my preaching that I don't know where it comes from except God above. A willingness to step out of my comfort zone and my manuscript and simply lead in a thought. For this highly introverted person, that is a big one!
And this weekend I find it spreading to my family. There was a gospel sing at Adam's St. Nursing Home. Mark did not remember in time to assemble any kind of group, but Zach and Sarah had worked up a song for camp and so he asked them to do it for the folks. Zach complained pretty much the whole morning that they were the only young people there, and that he was giving his Saturday away for...this?! Zach and Sarah sang well and were praised to be "the future."
But that isn't where it ends, there were multiple choirs from several Missionary Baptist churches around and they sang from their toes and led us all in moments of worship. The most wonderful were acapella solos of "How Great Thou Art" and "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" At the end of which were standing O's...but Zach and Sarah also were part of the voices saying amen and thank you Jesus. As we headed back to the car, Zach said: "I take back all my grumblings...it was worth it all."
So I am getting reacquainted with the Spirit of God that breaks down walls and stretches us to new places and kneads the clay of our hearts into new creations.
Thank you Jesus!
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