And
in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over
their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory
of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the
angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you
will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God
and saying,
“Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When
the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let
us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord
has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and
the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying
that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at
what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering
them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
This
church was on our list for a long time. We looked for it a few times; we did
find it once but worship time had changed and God lead us elsewhere.
We
found the restrooms and, I believe, the nursery – which had access to a good
cry room, but directional signage could be helpful.
We
were warmly welcomed at the door and I thought that might be the case inside. I
gathered that people thought we were there for the baptism but it was still odd
to be greeted by only a few. Even the forced hello’s during the Passing of the
Peace were few. But once we were out of the sanctuary and down in fellowship
hall, we were welcomed by many, providing a vastly different impression in the
two areas.
The
sanctuary is pleasant with a great wooden cross. I was impressed with the
decorations, but not just the Christmas trimmings: the attention to décor was impressive
throughout. The indirect lighting was appealing. I appreciated the comfortable
pew cushions, attractive garland on the beams, and handsome banners.
We
were pleased to witness a baptism and some beautiful young children.
I
really enjoyed the young woman who played the piano and we always appreciate a
good bell choir.
The
sermon, “The Gospel of Luke: A Proud Papa,” raised a question I never thought
of: when Jesus was born, did the relatives comment on who He looked like? I
remember those times with our children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
When
my Dad was shown a new baby he always said the child looked like Fritzie Zivic (a
boxer from Pittsburgh), and I frequently said the same. But when our children
and grands were born, they were too beautiful. I still couldn’t tell you which
features looked like whom, but they were beautiful children of God. God the
Father doesn’t deal with any of this…He sends the message of Who Christ is.
Probably
the best point was that even those whom Christ healed still died. I don’t know
how many in the congregation got that.
I
had difficulty hearing the pastor sometimes; it probably would require only a
minor audio adjustment to dampen the echo.
I was
pleased when the congregation was guided to pray for God to convict them of
their sins that they might pray for forgiveness in preparation for Communion the
coming week.
We
attempted to visit this church several times in the past but for various
reasons we did not actually make it here for worship. Today, however, was a
different story.
The
narthex is on the larger side, and the decorations, both Christmas and
everyday, are arranged by someone with an obvious talent. The facility is
lovely and well cared for. Signage was plentiful, and not only the restrooms
but also the stairs and other doors that visitors notice but are left to wonder
about.
The
gentleman who was acting as greeter took the time for conversation and extended
an invitation to join the fellowship time downstairs following the service. After
a brief self-guided tour we found seats in the sanctuary, and in the time
before worship began several folks said hello on their way past; everyone looked
very busy and preoccupied.
Hearing
the bell choir was a treat, as well as witnessing a baptism.
The
young woman playing the piano was quite good but the music seemed to lack any
feeling from the choir or the congregation.
A
wall in the front was appropriately used as a projection screen where some of
the liturgy and music were displayed, and even from the very back the words
were easy to read. During the Prayers and Concerns, those that were listed in
the bulletin were also displayed.
The
sermon, “The Gospel of Luke: A Proud Papa,” was an interesting spin on God as
Jesus’ Father. Like an earthly father, He was proud of His Child and wanted
everyone to admire Him.
There
were several things that caught my ear as he referred our faith: we are to come
and see, then go and tell; as you tell, you never know who might be listening
in; how anxious the congregation is to see others join proves whether this is a
church or a social club. I always admire a preacher who tells it like it is,
and this is a vital point.
I
thought the placement of the Passing of the Peace of Christ – following the
benediction – was awkward, but it turned out to be excellent. Conversation often
flows naturally at this point, and it led to our joining fellowship time. What
I found fascinating was the difference in the level of friendliness…once we got
downstairs the greetings were extended and there was great conversation. Very
glad we stayed.
Lord, we pray You would convict us all that we might prepare to partake of Communion, that we would prepare to meet You. We pray You will let us see our lives from Your perspective. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
