CHURCH REPORT FOR MAY 23, 2021 (and some words of Introduction)

 Introduction:

Today, I'm beginning a new phase of my blog. Unlike the previous two (or three, or four, or whatever) phases and re-launches and renewals of this blog, I'm cutting myself some slack. I will try to post regularly, but I'm done beating myself up for not posting and then waiting for the "right time" to pick up my blogging activity, only to wait weeks or months to do a new post. 
Blogging used to be fun and I had a lot to say. I want to recapture that. Like Hamilton was told
in the hit musical of the same name, "Why do you write like you're running out of time?" I want that drive and feeling back.

So today's new feature in this blog is a brief report on the church service I attended. Why report on this? Millions around the world spend their weekends involved in faith-based activities, so why not offer my short observations about my own experience? When I was involved in children's ministries, I watched parents pick up their kids after the service and ask, "what did you learn in Sunday School today?" So this blog is the answer to that question as it applies to "grown up church."

Disclosure and disclaimer:

My home church is Eagle Point Community Bible Church in southern Oregon, where I work in a support capacity in the church office. While I have experience as a pastor in other churches, I do not now have any kind of pastoral ministry or leadership role in my church. I teach an adult Bible study and once in a while, I fill the pulpit as a guest speaker. While several people affectionately refer to me as a pastor, technically, I am not.
The reason I want to make that clear is that these words are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the pastor, elders, or other leaders and staff of EPCBC.

CHURCH REPORT FOR MAY 23, 2021

My wife and I sat in the back of the sanctuary. There is a unique perspective to sitting in the back. Except for the people to our side, I mostly saw backs and backs of heads. I saw young heads with lots of hair. I saw older bodies, stooped with age, their hair nearly gone. Some people remained seated during singing, most stood. Some had their hands lifted in worship, some did not. I kept thinking, this is a picture of what church should look like.

Pastor Dick's message today was: "God of the Impossible" Ezekiel 37. Just as God gave hope to the people of Israel through the vision of the dry bones, he gives hope to us as well. Pastor did what he does best: instill some practical reminders for daily lives.

The message was not a deeply theological or eschatological message. He did acknowledge, via Romans 11, that there is coming a future salvation of Israel, but that wasn't the main point of this particular message. He closed with Psalm 13, pointing out that David begins with the cry of "how long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?" and ends with "I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me."

Our closing song set included the Revelation Song ("Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come..."). It is a favorite of mine and I can't help but be stirred whenever I sing it.

So, how was your church service today?