A Worship Experience

24 hours ago I was sitting in our sanctuary looking at the scene you see in this photo. It was a service of nine lessons and carols led by our ministers, the chancel choir and orchestra. Christmas lights, traditional chrismons on the trees, poinsettias, people of all ages worshiping around me....these are the moments of Christmas that give me an environment for worship, meditation, prayer and thankfulness. This morning it's about the work: tallying up the total worship attendants from yesterday (1,183), preparring for the baptism coming up next Sunday and corresponding with those who visited with us here at the church yesterday. But ahhhhh...yesterday...that is where my heart needs to stay all week. As those around me run, scream and claw their way through Macy's, I will strive to keep my heart and eyes on the Child and all that He teaches us no matter where we are.

Chapel of the Abiding Presence

As a student at Texas Lutheran College (now University...sorry I can't say it...doesn't sound right) we had the opportunity to attend chapel at 10:30 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As a theology major, I was kind of expected to be there...and I was, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It was a 25 minute service with scripture, song and a meditation by the campus pastor. The pipe organ was played by a rotation of sacred music majors. Then we would all pour out into the gathering area just outside the front door of the chapel and eat doughnuts and drink coffee till we finally didn't want any lunch. Some of us had class right after chapel and stuffed pastries into our backpacks and filled our mamoth refillable coffee cups from the Sack and Save before running off to Greek or Philosophy in Literature or Business or Ethics or Homiletics. It was interesting. It wasn't just the theology majors in chapel...most of my friends were Biology or Chemistry majors...and there we all were, worshipping together. Ah...college. The best place I can think to receive that really rude awakening that everyone isn't just like you. Believe me, I was shocked...actually more pleasantly surprised. I don't know if that was glimpse of what I might be doing later but as I look back, I accidentally had people coming with me to chapel. People who told me later that they never would have believed that given a choice between a quick toes up or chapel they would have chosen chapel.

Ah...Evangelism. Another great equalizer :)

MAKEUP!!!!!!

Remember when we were little and they actually had good cartoons on the TV on Saturday morning?!? One of my favorite moments is when Daffy gets all shot up and disheveled and then screams, "MAKEUP!!" click here to remind yourself http://www.barbneal.com/wav/ltunes/daffy/Daffy123.wav

And then his bill would be moved from the top of his head to the front of his face, the bare spot on his tail would get new feathers and he no longer had that disgusted look on his face. Okay, now bear with me here...I have a confession to make. Sometimes, when I go up to the communion rail during Sunday worship and kneel down and I'm supposed to be praying, "Even though I'm not deserving of your forgiveness Lord, I am in dire need of your grace" I instead say to myself, "MAKEUP!!" Oh brother, I just can't help it. Isn't it really the same thing? Aren't we asking to be made new? Acceptable again? No longer all messed up? To be made whole again is an actual moment of grace that only God can give and it's a gift given that we cannot earn. We only yell, "MAKEUP" with our contrite heart and we get a new duckbill which brings me much peace!