The Church, Today

Yesterday was one of my weepy Sunday's. I walked into church sleepy and kind of down from my late social Saturday night. I hadn't been able to decide what to wear or get my new haircut to cooperate, and I didn't really want to be there. But upon walking late into my Sunday school class, my friend Amy (and I love her forever for this) exclaimed, "Joanna!", and I melted, and smiled and sat down. Then I ate donut holes that Emily and Adam brought, and went and made some tea in the gym, and talked to Karah about her weekend visiting her family, and how great it is to watch a movie with people who laugh out loud, because then everyone laughs. I was already glad I went and wanted to hug them all.

The service yesterday was unusual for several reasons. The first being that Pastor Hall was away. It was the last Sunday that he would be away until he leaves the position in March. This transition time became the theme of the service, using Philippians as something of a template. The second reason that the service was unusual was that there was no long sermon. Pastor Gene, the assistant pastor, led several meditations, using different passages in Philippians. Between each passage we sang a song, or had prayer. Heart of the Lamb is the youth choir, and they led the singing, and there is nothing like them. There is nothing that compares to the freshness and sincerity of the youth of the church leading worship.

And they sang hymns like "I Will Sing of My Redeemer", and then we sang "I Will Enter His Gates", and Karah and I scoured the congregation for our choir kids who just started learning it last week. Then we sang two other hymns that I can't remember (which hymns were they??? The one in the hymnal and the one at the end? Karah? Mom?), and all though the service was the theme of rejoicing. Rejoicing in times of not knowing, and in suffering, and in God's love, and because he made and is making and will keep making us all more like him, and because he is doing it with all of us all there together. And I fought off tears the whole time. This isn't unusual for me. I cry regularly in church, but not ususally the whole time.

So last night I spent some quiet time at my house. I lit a candle and used it as my one light source, and I prayed. Really prayed. And I am not trying to sound proud of myself. I should pray like that a lot more often. But I thought of the verse and used it as a model and a promise,

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:4-7

I stayed home from Hershey Free Church last night, where many of my other friends attend to spend this time praying. It sounds ridiculously snobby to stay home and pray rather than go worship with friends. But last night I think it was what I needed. I had out a lot of stuff with God. But it turns out that they looked at the very same passage this week in a series on prayer. How beautiful is that? And maybe I would have gained a lot by going.

But I will be back to both next week. EBIC is my church in all ways that a church can be. The people there know and love me and I them. Hershey Free is very special too, as I have friends closer to my home here to spend late Saturday nights with, and have learned to run Power Point. But both love God so very much, and I am very blessed to be a part of both, as large or as small as each part may be right now. So that is the church for me today...

And yes, faithful readers, I have finally finished my series... I hope to not preach so many sermons in the future, but I am sure that I probably will.