The Chronicle

From Debbie’s desk

As I think about the summer, my mind drifts to beaches and mountains, picnics and amusement parks, golf and softball, family and friends, reading and worship.
Wait, Deb, you think about worship? That’s not on our “summer fun” list. Why would you tack that on to the end of an exciting list of things to do while enjoying the vacation persona of summer?
I guess my return question is “WHY NOT?” After all, God does not take vacation during the months of July and August. In fact, think about what it would be like if God skipped showing up for worship during the summer – or anytime for that matter? No need to sing any praises – unless they were self-praising…”Joyful, joyful, we adore me…” There would be no need to have any confession of sin since we’d be the ones confessing and forgiving…”Hey, I did this hurtful thing this week and I do feel a bit bad about it but hey, so-and-so did this and that’s much worse so I guess I needn’t feel too bad about my actions…”
And what about prayer…who’s going to chart and answer all those requests? “Hey, whoever’s taking the prayer concerns, my family is in crisis: I need healing for my brother and a tender touch for my sister. Their kids need assurance and we all need some peace in our lives. Harry’s been diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis is poor. Hospice has been called but they say that he only has weeks. The message on the prayer answering machine says God will be back in September…but that may be too late… Is anyone listening? Does anyone care? What are we going to do?”
If God was on vacation, we’d also have shallow self-serving sermons and whiny pastoral prayers and heartless affirmation of faiths. I think you see where I am going with this. We think it’s ok to take vacation from worship – after all, we need it; we deserve it. But what if the shoe WAS on the other foot? What if God said, “I need a break from all of this…I’m tired. Eternity is a long time. Two months of R & R will do me good. The messes and ‘fesses, the crying and dying, the needs and heeds will still be around in the autumn. I need a vacation…”
It’s time to claim the importance of God in our lives and in the world…and to remember the reason we gather on Sunday mornings. Church service is not about us and what we gain; it’s about God and what we give. It’s all about worshiping our God! Psalm 100 explains: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Maybe having worship on our summer “to do” list is a good thing after all! This summer, whether north or south, east or west, here or there, let’s “worship the Lord with gladness; let’s come into his presence with singing!” So, dear friends, have a great summer! And, no matter where life leads you, “make a joyful noise to the Lord!”
Blessings,

Debbie

There is always need

The summer vacation schedule is always difficult to arrange as our volunteers also take vacations! Please be willing to step in if asked to usher. Now is a great time to consider volunteering to do a children’s sermon or to read the liturgy.

The sound system requires someone to watch over it and make adjustments during each worship service. It is an easy job – and you can pick your service preference. Let the office know if you can help.

Counters and Ushers are also needed to keep our teams working. We hope to keep 5 or 6 teams set up so that the volunteer works only once every 5 or 6 weeks.