Christmas Eve was truly a holy time...hectic, too but full of God's love and grace and beautiful, I mean beautiful people! There were a little over 50 of us gathered for worship at Gathering Grounds Coffee House (http://www.gatheringgroundskirkwood.com/.) The coffee shop was transformed into a worship space with a couple of isles, a couple of pews and rows, a couple of stools and several folks standing in the back--we made it work and it did (and when I say we, mostly I'm talking about Susan, Amy and Karen.)
I knew most of the people, but not everyone and that part was so exciting, too. Friends invited friends to worship with them on Christmas eve. We sang Christmas hymns and I mean it when I tell you it was incredible. I was worried how Gerlinda (amazing guitarist, singer song writer http://www.weaklazylier.com/ ) and I were going to pull off classic Christmas Hymns on two guitars, but God is good and the congregation can sing! My good friend and encourager Robin Harp, her son Josh and daughter Isabell brought the Christ Candle to life with the bright light of Christ and a reading from Jeremiah. The kids joined me for a special time with them and we talked about God's love for us and that because God sent Jesus into the world to be born into our lives we don't ever have to feel alone, and like the angel said to the shepherds, "Do not be afraid...this is good news!."
My heart still feels so full from that worship experience with the Kirkwood community and surrounding communities, it feels full of love for the people that gathered and for God who is steady, and wide and gracious every single moment of the day. And I am hopeful that there is more to come. I am hopeful that God is gathering us for something that is bigger than us, to reach out to each other and our community with the saving, gracious love of God and to do it in ways that are real and authentic and make sense for us and for our community. We need each other, bottom line, we need God and we need each other. I believe that with all of my heart.
We will gather again at Gathering Grounds on Sunday afternoon January 21st, 5:00 till about 5:45. It will be a time of worship and a time of conversation about the hope of something more to come. I'm praying for you everyday--for all of us as we move forward to listen and watch and wait and work toward God's vision for us in our community.
Please be certain that I will be praying for you everyday! Peace and love to you, S
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment