Bob’s thoughts:
I was wondering about the signage when I saw the directional arrow for the driveway…I think it is orange on green, but the contrast is so poor I had to look again to see which direction was indicated. When we parked in the upper lot, the Sanctuary entrance was well identified, and we found a restroom sign easily inside.
We were warmly welcomed from when we stepped in the door and the usher shook my hand and looked me in the eye.
The first song on the screen also had poor contrast, making it hard to read from the rear seats. There were a lot of children in the Sanctuary, a personal joy for me.
A large round stained glass window accentuates the rear chancel wall but was covered with a black drape. I thought the window might contain a cross, as I couldn’t see one in the Sanctuary. But as we left I drove around to check, and no cross.
The sermon was on differentiating Scriptural references to killing and murder. I believe the Bible is very clear that abortion is murder, and it always seemed to me that being pro-abortion after you have been born is hypocritical.
Jan’s thoughts:
We were greeted warmly as we entered the building, then by several others who introduced themselves and welcomed us.
The building seemed fairly new, but we did not have an opportunity to tour at all. The only signage I noted was toward the restrooms. We also noticed a bulletin board indicating the numerous global missions in which the church is involved.
The Sanctuary was spacious and pretty. Unfortunately the only stained glass was covered by black cloth to prevent the sun from blinding parishioners. However, as the pastor pointed out, it was also appropriate on this Sanctity of Life Sunday.
We heard some contemporary music when we first entered the building, but missed it since we did not enter the Sanctuary until the announcements were underway.
As usual we sat near the back, and I briefly considered moving closer to the front in order to see the words on the screen. Had they been white on that dark background, or at least larger, it would have been easier.
The sermon, called “The Unsanctity of Life,” was based on Exodus 20:13. The pastor had an excellent progression from “In Scripture, the choice of words is inspired by God” to “This particular Hebrew word (for murder) does not apply to animals, to execution by the state, to killing in self-defense, to killing in the course of a just war, or any other matter except the unlawful, premeditated killing of another human, including involuntary manslaughter.”
He pointed out, however, that "we live in a culture of death," where even some who would raise money to help save animals from death may believe that a woman has a “right” to an abortion because “it’s her body.”
He made too many points for me to enumerate, but his clear stand was that life originates with and belongs to God, that we have no “right” to end a life prematurely, that “there is a difference between terminating life and terminating treatment,” and that “there are no throw-away people.”
It’s too bad that in this world we need a day to have this point brought consciously to mind.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
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