1. That's not our worship team! - Every one of the people who played yesterday, plays on one of our worship teams, but they don't usually play together. Beth Russnogle, our Worship Director, brought them together and they had about three or four hours of practice before Sunday. Our singing sounded great yesterday, largely because they did a great job of leading the way for us!
2. Some guests really did find us! - I know I joked about it, but
we did have some guests with us yesterday. They were in town visiting family
and friends who brought them to worship. What I heard from each one I talked to
was, “Thank you for embracing my son/daughter/family. Your church was just what
they needed.” The feeling’s mutual. We really need each other. We were made for
“together.”
3, Baptisms are contagious! - We baptized two youth yesterday in
preparation for confirmation Sunday on June 7th. After the service we
were cleaning up, and one of our other youth approached me and said, “I want to be baptized.” Something
clicked for her as she watched Shelby and Tyler get baptized and she knew it
was a step she wanted to take as well. Awesome stuff.
4. A lot happened that wasn't in the bulletin! – Every Sunday I
pray, “God do something that’s not in the bulletin.” It’s the way I ask God to
do something I don’t expect that day. A lot of that happened yesterday. A lot
of important conversations. A lot of re-connecting. Just because of yesterday:
there’s a wedding on my calendar, a powerful time of prayer for a new job, new
people ready to serve and share their gifts.
5. People saw Jesus. - A lot of people were genuinely excited
about being together and being the church yesterday – about Go, Gather, and
Grow. Later in the day, I had two conversations with people following up from worship that morning. Both were along the lines of, “Tell me more about Jesus. I think he’s talking to me and I want to
know more.” Something powerful is happening when people are encountering
God in worship and want to get connected to Jesus.
Yesterday was a great day. A lot happened - some of it you
might have missed - and I just didn't want you to!
Go. Grow. Until we Gather,
Pastor John
