10.02.2005
I actually went to the early service, because it was the "Great Church Get-together" and World Communion Sunday. We added elements of EPIC in the communion liturgy today. Instead of the usual chunks of bread and grape juice, we used the elements local to the Congo (koolaid and rice cakes), Fiji (manioc and pineapple juice), France (wafers and wine) and Mexico (tortillas and water).
It was also Stewardship Sunday (blech asking for money in the sermon), but we were "celebrating our aliveness". The best part of the sermon was when everyone spontaneously joined in saying: "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Amen!" Group participation yeah!
We dedicated a new banner and confessed our sins, we were told "Just as I have loved you, you must love one another."
Also mentioned, we're medium sized. Our membership is staying stable, some members leaving or dying, some new members joining and "We may not be the biggest church in town, but we have the biggest church supper in town!"
The only part that I am unhappy with is Cass Lake. We have a sister church there and it is such an opotunity for us to reach out to that community. But, all we are worried about is how we will pay for the gap that they will leave financially if they close. Rarr.
After church, we did what we do best: everyone went downstairs and had lunch served by the youth group - they had to put up extra tables - a big turnout!
It's cheesy but, we really are a big family. I feel loved and comfortable enough that I can wear clothes that could belong at the bar and still stand up and hand out communion. (If that is who I am on Saturday night it should be who I am on Sunday morning).
It was also Stewardship Sunday (blech asking for money in the sermon), but we were "celebrating our aliveness". The best part of the sermon was when everyone spontaneously joined in saying: "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Amen!" Group participation yeah!
We dedicated a new banner and confessed our sins, we were told "Just as I have loved you, you must love one another."
Also mentioned, we're medium sized. Our membership is staying stable, some members leaving or dying, some new members joining and "We may not be the biggest church in town, but we have the biggest church supper in town!"
The only part that I am unhappy with is Cass Lake. We have a sister church there and it is such an opotunity for us to reach out to that community. But, all we are worried about is how we will pay for the gap that they will leave financially if they close. Rarr.
After church, we did what we do best: everyone went downstairs and had lunch served by the youth group - they had to put up extra tables - a big turnout!
It's cheesy but, we really are a big family. I feel loved and comfortable enough that I can wear clothes that could belong at the bar and still stand up and hand out communion. (If that is who I am on Saturday night it should be who I am on Sunday morning).