Christianity

PIANO PRAYERS, MISSIONARY, JACOB’S FIRE AND AMANDA’S CUPS

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The tide of ministry has been high this week. Sunday I preached my 50th message in our series on Revelation. Truthfully it is probably more like the 60th or 70th sermon in the series, but it is entitled “Jesus Doing Life Pt. 2 Pt. 50.”

We were stuck in chapters 2,3 and 4 for quite a while and I was using decimal points (2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and so on) for that particular point in the series. It has been a wonderful study and I am looking forward to its conclusion on Sept. 29th (which it just hit me would have been my mother’s 88th birthday).

HERE IS THE SERVICE FROM SUNDAY.

Sunday preaching always leaves me ready for a nap. This series has left me feeling particularly drained. Maybe it’s just the content but I am finding I need to rest deeply on Sunday afternoon, and it is good to have a lot of time to pray on Mondays.

This week I did get several hours to pray on Monday morning and then Monday evening I led worship from 5-6 at THE WORSHIP ROOM HOUSE OF PRAYER and prayed in the prayer room from 6-7 P.M.

HERE IS THAT SERIES OF PRAYER SERVICES.

Tuesday is always one of the busiest days of my week. Staff meeting led into a missions lunch with one of our missionary friends from a sensitive country. Amanda came down with the stomach flu which is running through our kids ministry, so I took youth group for her on Tuesday night.

This is the “GET WELL” bouquet one of her teens made for her.

Youth night this week was easy. It was the fall opening for youth ministry, girls ministry and Royal Rangers Ministry to boys. One of Amanda’s teen-agers had a vision. for having a bonfire to start the season off. Together, Jacob and a few other folks from the church cleaned out and prepared the fire pit at the back of the church property.

One of our youth leaders, Troy, helped Jacob get the fire up and running while the other kids opened with business and games.

Then everyone came out to the fire and made stores while another one of Amanda’s youth led in worship.

Wednesday. I worked at home to catch up on prayer and Vicarage projects.

Then on Thursday, I joined Amanda’s DLT group (she was fully recovered from the stomach bug by that point) to start getting ready for our upcoming Church Crockpot cook off. Amanda’s group is sponsoring the event and so we had to label 1100 sample cups for the cook off

Today. I am getting ready for oral surgery to remove my wisdom teeth. So…yeah… it’s been a fun and active week. Which is my excuse for not writing as much here at Notes.

I have smiled a lot this week and made a lot of fun memories.

WHAT MEMEORY DID YOU BUILD THIS WEEK?

PASTORS AND POTLUCKS

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I eat out a lot. I think all pastors do. In fact I would say that pastoring revolves around God, people, AND FOOD.

Photo by Chan Walrus on Pexels.com

Many of our leader meetings involve food. Some even have food as the agenda. Many times when I do visitation people have food waiting for me when I arrive at their homes. When I do pastoral meeting away from the church and away from my congregants’ homes I am usually at Starbuck’s or Sippin’ Serendipity or even the 99. Then, of course, there is the church potluck! I love a good potluck supper.

Today I had two potlucks back to back. I got up early this morning, and after morning prayer, I began preparing my offering for first luncheon, a macaroni salad.

I started with fresh dill from the garden,

and fresh eggs from our chickens.

I hard boiled the eggs along with the macaroni and some peas.

I cut up the dill and mixed it in with a little salt, pepper, mayonnaise and mustard.

Then I had plenty of time to chill the salad before the leadership luncheon hosted at one of our group leader’s home.

It was a wonderful time of fellowship, breaking bread around the tables.

There were conversations about family, friends and faith.

Cora was our mascot for the day. She was wonderful with the children.

This event was multigenerational.

My second potluck of the day was a funeral held at the local Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall. More and more people are opting not to hold large church funerals because of the cost. The last three funerals I have done have been celebrations of life held at people’s homes or in small halls.

I did this celebration of life, while people were gathered around the tables for a late luncheon. My position was next to the food table by the gatorade container. I called the service to order with two verses of Amazing Grace and a pastoral prayer for peace as people finished their baked ziti and salad.

I suppose some would say a service like this lacked reverence. I don’t think that way. I feel like these types of services create something very close to biblical koinonia (Christian communion particularly of the early church). People feel more connected to each other when there is food present. It’s one of the reasons I think food is present in so much pastoral ministry.

We sang. We read Scripture. We shared memories. I shared a devotional and a charge to embrace the faith. We held a moment of solemn silence. We prayed the Lord’s Prayer. I prayed a committal and a benediction. Then everyone had dessert and continued sharing around the tables. There were tears and there was a lot laughter.

I think God likes what sharing a meal does for people.