Weekend Reflections
Whirlwind weekend.
We continued our Battle of the Sexes series. I talked about the unique challenges and issues men face. Issued three challenges based on the mistakes Adam made in Genesis 3: quit sitting, quit hiding, quit blaming. Our Union and Ballston bands did a little Eye of the Tiger benediction. Schweet! What better way to honor our men :)
Wasn't sure what would happen with our transition to three services @ Union Station this week. So happy that our 9 AM @ Union was full. I was hoping people would shift to the earlier time slot. The earlier service takes a little pressure off my trip to Ballston. I used to have a five minute window--I'd arrive about 10:55 and preach at 11:00 AM. Alot more relaxed this week! I have to break fewer driving laws to get there :) I actually walked back and forth between our Spanish and English services a bunch of times during worship! Props to the worship team and translation team led by Dairo Borja. Pulled off our first Spanish service! One small step/One giant leap.
The big challenge moving forward with seven services is keeping my messages to 30-35 minutes. It's a pretty tight transition between services. We actually did announcements by telling people to read their bulletin. Novel thought :)
One observation. I really believe that God fills vacuums. When we launch a new location or add a new service it creates a vacuum. And God has a way of filling it.
Bottom line: we pulled off seven services @ three locations.
Deep breath. And get ready to do it again next week!
We continued our Battle of the Sexes series. I talked about the unique challenges and issues men face. Issued three challenges based on the mistakes Adam made in Genesis 3: quit sitting, quit hiding, quit blaming. Our Union and Ballston bands did a little Eye of the Tiger benediction. Schweet! What better way to honor our men :)
Wasn't sure what would happen with our transition to three services @ Union Station this week. So happy that our 9 AM @ Union was full. I was hoping people would shift to the earlier time slot. The earlier service takes a little pressure off my trip to Ballston. I used to have a five minute window--I'd arrive about 10:55 and preach at 11:00 AM. Alot more relaxed this week! I have to break fewer driving laws to get there :) I actually walked back and forth between our Spanish and English services a bunch of times during worship! Props to the worship team and translation team led by Dairo Borja. Pulled off our first Spanish service! One small step/One giant leap.
The big challenge moving forward with seven services is keeping my messages to 30-35 minutes. It's a pretty tight transition between services. We actually did announcements by telling people to read their bulletin. Novel thought :)
One observation. I really believe that God fills vacuums. When we launch a new location or add a new service it creates a vacuum. And God has a way of filling it.
Bottom line: we pulled off seven services @ three locations.
Deep breath. And get ready to do it again next week!
2 Comments:
Mark, I think your "one observation" is an important challenge for the church (and one of my stump speeches!) "WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE IN REPRODUCING AND NOT REACTIVE." We have discovered the same thing that you have discovered that when we reproduce new groups, new services, new sites and new churches that God sends us the people. A true apostolic ethos doesn't wait on the 80% rule or the parking lot to be full. We are constantly sending and going and starting new things. Thanks for the chance to rant!
As I think of the first NCC service in Spanish, I rejoice that there is a place for foreigners in God's heart..
"But the stranger who dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you; and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God."
-Leviticus 19:34
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