Last night we held our 3rd Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (we have done one every year except last year), and we had about 110 people attend - it was good. You know, I never know exactly how those kinds of events will come off, but it came off well. I was reminded in a very touching way how incredibly evangelistic and Christ-filled Christmas is, and why the world fights it so much.
Maybe that sounds like a "duh" statement coming from a minister, but the traditional Christmas carols are inundated with the Gospel message - Hark the Herald Angels, O Holy Night, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, etc. Fitting songs such as these fit into our praise and worship fairly easily, although they take work since we only sing them during one season of the year. But it is no wonder than anti-Christian people would find Christmas so offensive as it is so powerfully evangelistic - talking about Immanuel - God with us - and receiving Him.
And as we had many visitors in the service last night, I had the strangest thought for just a moment - that maybe I had designed the service to be a little too Christian - I thought maybe the non-Christian visitors would be slightly uncomfortable. And then I came to my senses, as I thought to myself, "You know what? We can go anywhere else and not get the message right! We can go to school productions, theater events, movies, TV and get the watered-down or wrong messages about Christmas. As the pastor of a growing, vibrant church, I had better get the message right!" - and so that passing thought was gone - "I don't receive that!"
And when we lit the candles near the end of the service and sang How Great is Our God - it was phenomenal! The lyrics say, He wraps Himself in light and darkness tries to hide and trembles at His voice...it was amazing to be part of a crowd of worshippers singing this as we held our lights, knowing that He is the Light of the world that pushes away the darkness of sin and death, and we are His lights, bringing the good news of peace to everyone.
There were a few times last night when we sang a cappella (without instruments) on Joy to the World and O Come All Ye Faithful, and the congregational singing was incredible! It was like directing a large choir, as harmonies rang out and I was overjoyed to hear such an incredible voice of people praising God.
After everyone had gone, as I shut off the lights in the building, I thought back to 2003 and our first Candlelight Service - small, intimate (30 people?), and not planning to have to read without the lights on (I read by candelight at one point, and quoted from memory at another point) - and as I stood in the darkened sanctuary for a minute, I thanked God for how far He has brought us in just three short years.
And so today, Christmas Day, as I have had the chance to sit back and ponder last night, and open gifts from so many wonderful church members, I just thank God for the Gift of His Son, a Gift too wonderful for words, and thank God for the wonderful people that I have the joy of ministering to and serving God with...
Monday, December 25, 2006
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Sunday December 24, 2006 - Christmas Eve
OK - I have to admit - I was really unsure what our attendance would be like today, as we had many people out of town, and this being the day before Christmas. My wife and I had talked earlier this week about the fact that maybe we should have just scheduled one service for this morning - but wouldn't you know, we had 146 today, which was a great surprise! We had some guests, and overall, it was a good day at The Journey.
I preached on receiving the gifts of Advent at Christmas - joy, hope, peace, and love - and letting them into our lives. It was a very evangelistic sermon as well, as I wanted to give visitors the chance to receive the greatest gift of all - Jesus Christ. Two people in our second service raised their hands that they prayed with me and invited God into their lives, starting a new relationship with Him - it was awesome!
The music was rough in a couple of spots - that was my doing mostly - but it was good nonetheless, specifically Sharon Gaudet's "Babe in a Manger" - I would love for her to record that song...
Tonight is our Candlelight Service, which is just a chance to worship together as we celebrate Christmas with our extended church family. May the Lord ignite our hearts and make us into the lights that our community needs us to be.
Thank God for the gift of His Son, a Gift too wonderful for words...
I preached on receiving the gifts of Advent at Christmas - joy, hope, peace, and love - and letting them into our lives. It was a very evangelistic sermon as well, as I wanted to give visitors the chance to receive the greatest gift of all - Jesus Christ. Two people in our second service raised their hands that they prayed with me and invited God into their lives, starting a new relationship with Him - it was awesome!
The music was rough in a couple of spots - that was my doing mostly - but it was good nonetheless, specifically Sharon Gaudet's "Babe in a Manger" - I would love for her to record that song...
Tonight is our Candlelight Service, which is just a chance to worship together as we celebrate Christmas with our extended church family. May the Lord ignite our hearts and make us into the lights that our community needs us to be.
Thank God for the gift of His Son, a Gift too wonderful for words...
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Sunday, December 17, 2006
As I record the information about each service through this blog every week, I am sometimes at a loss for words. You see, I want to be factual in what I say, and yet at the same time, I want to write from my perspective of how I felt the service went, understanding that my feelings are not always what everyone else felt. So forgive me if sometimes my feelings do not reflect your own - feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments below.
For me, Sunday morning began as a struggle. I was dealing with some personal conflict that had me up at 5am and at the church by 6am. I was struggling with some tough feelings, but I was actively giving them to God, and even during the praise team practice and before church I was frustrated and conflicted.
Yet, when the music began at 9am for the worship, it lifted. There is something about worship that frees us, that refocuses us, and that allows us to put our problems in perspective. So once the church started singing, my spirit immediately lifted, and what I thought would be a tough day of preaching for me (yes, I have those kinds of days) turned into a good day as we focused on the JOY of serving God from John 4 - after all, it was the third week of Advent, and JOY was our focus.
But as I delivered the message, when it came time at the end, so many people raised their hands that they wanted to "find the nourishment that comes from DOING the will of God," I was excited. I desire to see our church body step forward TOGETHER in planting and harvesting, every one knowing his/her role and doing his/her part. When this working together happens, there is "much joy waiting" for us and for God.
It was a good day at The Journey, even though for me it started out as a struggle. I am so grateful for the people who come ready to worship, and who are ready to enter into God's presence, because by inviting God's presence, I, for one, experienced JOY - thank you so much for your consistency in being ready to take the congregation into the presence of God.
The attendance today was lower (Christmas shopping, parties, and events are drawing people away - just don't forget to come back!) as we had 130, but if you missed it, there is always next week.
For me, Sunday morning began as a struggle. I was dealing with some personal conflict that had me up at 5am and at the church by 6am. I was struggling with some tough feelings, but I was actively giving them to God, and even during the praise team practice and before church I was frustrated and conflicted.
Yet, when the music began at 9am for the worship, it lifted. There is something about worship that frees us, that refocuses us, and that allows us to put our problems in perspective. So once the church started singing, my spirit immediately lifted, and what I thought would be a tough day of preaching for me (yes, I have those kinds of days) turned into a good day as we focused on the JOY of serving God from John 4 - after all, it was the third week of Advent, and JOY was our focus.
But as I delivered the message, when it came time at the end, so many people raised their hands that they wanted to "find the nourishment that comes from DOING the will of God," I was excited. I desire to see our church body step forward TOGETHER in planting and harvesting, every one knowing his/her role and doing his/her part. When this working together happens, there is "much joy waiting" for us and for God.
It was a good day at The Journey, even though for me it started out as a struggle. I am so grateful for the people who come ready to worship, and who are ready to enter into God's presence, because by inviting God's presence, I, for one, experienced JOY - thank you so much for your consistency in being ready to take the congregation into the presence of God.
The attendance today was lower (Christmas shopping, parties, and events are drawing people away - just don't forget to come back!) as we had 130, but if you missed it, there is always next week.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
A good day here at The Journey - a really good day - as we celebrated the 2nd week of Advent. Debra Carnevale and her granddaughter, Kayla, lit the Advent candle in the first service while the Bonneas and their grandson Aaron lit the candle in the second service.
Today was a good day for several reasons - the worship was good, the word was good, we continue to celebrate Advent, and we had a guest missionary with us - Jon Liles, missionary to Italy. Jon not only presented his field and sang, but he was a living example of our theme from Isaiah 52:7 - "How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation..." Jon and his family surrendered to go to Italy, and from God's perspective, He loves their feet!
We also had a special celebrity Bible reader, Linus, as he read the shepherd story from Luke 2. And the worship, especially in the 2nd service, was great as we sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and "O Holy Night," which almost blew the doors off of the place.
Our attendance was the lowest it's been in months - since May - we had 114 - but it was great day, and the Spirit of God was among us. If you missed today, I look forward to seeing you next week as we enter into our third week of Advent and focus on the theme of JOY.
Today was a good day for several reasons - the worship was good, the word was good, we continue to celebrate Advent, and we had a guest missionary with us - Jon Liles, missionary to Italy. Jon not only presented his field and sang, but he was a living example of our theme from Isaiah 52:7 - "How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation..." Jon and his family surrendered to go to Italy, and from God's perspective, He loves their feet!
We also had a special celebrity Bible reader, Linus, as he read the shepherd story from Luke 2. And the worship, especially in the 2nd service, was great as we sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and "O Holy Night," which almost blew the doors off of the place.
Our attendance was the lowest it's been in months - since May - we had 114 - but it was great day, and the Spirit of God was among us. If you missed today, I look forward to seeing you next week as we enter into our third week of Advent and focus on the theme of JOY.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Sunday, December 3, 2006
This Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent as I spoke on being Fueled by Hope. I was very excited about this message, as it was birthed out of struggling with the topic and allowing God to speak into my life on what hope is, how it differs from faith, and what practically it means to us. I preached on the fact that hope makes me stronger in 4 ways:
1) Hope motivates me to keep looking forward-expectantly.
2) Hope encourages me with the fact that God isn't done working yet.
3) Hope frees me from always trying to make things happen.
4) Hope forces me to honestly evaluate my walk.
We had a great day as we also celebrated communion in the middle of the message and read from Isaiah 52-53 before we took of the bread and juice. We also sang a few Advent songs (Come Thou Long Expected Jesus and O Come O Come Emmanuel).
Our attendance has been steadily in the 140's and 150's over the past two months, and we had 148 today. We have had some wonderful new people that have either joined us or are seriously thinking about it, including Jennifer Ryan and Veronica (last name?), Matthew Reed, Jon & Kim Lash, Brent Williams, Jamie, Kevin, and Hope. It is a wonderful thing to see people grow in their relationship with the Lord, and then in relationships with others.
May God continue to grow us into the church He wants us to be.
1) Hope motivates me to keep looking forward-expectantly.
2) Hope encourages me with the fact that God isn't done working yet.
3) Hope frees me from always trying to make things happen.
4) Hope forces me to honestly evaluate my walk.
We had a great day as we also celebrated communion in the middle of the message and read from Isaiah 52-53 before we took of the bread and juice. We also sang a few Advent songs (Come Thou Long Expected Jesus and O Come O Come Emmanuel).
Our attendance has been steadily in the 140's and 150's over the past two months, and we had 148 today. We have had some wonderful new people that have either joined us or are seriously thinking about it, including Jennifer Ryan and Veronica (last name?), Matthew Reed, Jon & Kim Lash, Brent Williams, Jamie, Kevin, and Hope. It is a wonderful thing to see people grow in their relationship with the Lord, and then in relationships with others.
May God continue to grow us into the church He wants us to be.
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