Thursday, December 20, 2007
- Mark McAdow
Wow! What a couple of interesting Sundays we’ve had this month! Two weeks ago, a now infamous ice storm was moving into Oklahoma... we had 106 brave folks join us for our one worship service that morning. (Thanks for making us all honorary Marines, Michael!) Last Sunday we began first service and lost our electricity right before our Christmas musical, Born to You This Day, was to begin. Terri and crew didn’t miss a beat though. She brought the choir down front and invited the church family to move closer in. We enjoyed the wonderful presentation minus microphones and the background track. Sharon played the accompaniment on the piano while Brenda turned the pages.
Thankfully, the sun was shining brightly through the stained glass windows, so we could see the choir as well as hear them. Though we did experience our first “Candlelight Worship Service” of season! Be sure to join us Monday evening, Christmas Eve, for our true Candlelight Communion Service at either 6:00 or 11:00pm. You’ll be blessed!
We were also surprised and blessed to have our District Superintendent, Rev. Frankye Johnson, and our Bishop’s wife, Dee Hayes, with us for “worship in the dark!” The lights came back on promptly at 12 noon. Some blamed the devil, but I won’t give him the credit. I believe it was as God intended it! For me it was one of the most moving services we’ve experienced together at First Church and at what an appropriate time of the year. There were no microphones or background tracks for Jesus’ first birth announcement either!
I am so very proud of the First Church family and your “can do” spirit. We are living out our faith, reminding ourselves and others that, “we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength!” (Phil. 4:13).
This Sunday is Christmas Sunday! I can’t wait to worship together and to see what “surprises” God may have in store for us! Merry Christmas!
In Christ’s Love,
Mark