Around here, Sunday mornings are a tense time, especially for the staff. Worship starts at 10.45, and often 10.40 rolls around with less than 25 or 30 people in the pews. So there is momentary panic - "where IS everyone? What will we do? Are there enough deacons?". And then I walk onto the chancel at 10.45 and.....the place is full. Everyone will stay around and talk AFTER church, but before can be spooky.
Sometimes I wish everyone who comes on Sunday mornings could be a fly on the wall around here during the week. Roger spends probably 5-6 hours a week, editing our weekly broadcast and making sure lyrics and scripture are added. Diana spends time working on choosing appropriate music for each service, planning ahead of time so that musicians can have enough rehearsal. The bell choir meets weekly. Scripts are written for the liturgists. Communion is prepared and cleaned up. Darrin makes sure the building and grounds look good. Volunteers weed and work with the labyrinth garden. Elves clean the kitchen. Groups meet nightly for study, meditation, prayer, and fellowship. Yvonne makes the paraments. Leon and Alana work hard on Sunday School (which reminds me - Sunday School starts at 9.45; why don't you check it out?). Children's church volunteers receive their curriculum and start preparing for the next week.
Church doesn't just happen. People show up daily to prepare for the Spirit to work within each service. Sometime soon - show up at 9.45. Or if not, at least try 10.30. Notice what is around you, and what has been done to make each service a special one. There might even be something you could do.......
Sometimes I wish everyone who comes on Sunday mornings could be a fly on the wall around here during the week. Roger spends probably 5-6 hours a week, editing our weekly broadcast and making sure lyrics and scripture are added. Diana spends time working on choosing appropriate music for each service, planning ahead of time so that musicians can have enough rehearsal. The bell choir meets weekly. Scripts are written for the liturgists. Communion is prepared and cleaned up. Darrin makes sure the building and grounds look good. Volunteers weed and work with the labyrinth garden. Elves clean the kitchen. Groups meet nightly for study, meditation, prayer, and fellowship. Yvonne makes the paraments. Leon and Alana work hard on Sunday School (which reminds me - Sunday School starts at 9.45; why don't you check it out?). Children's church volunteers receive their curriculum and start preparing for the next week.
Church doesn't just happen. People show up daily to prepare for the Spirit to work within each service. Sometime soon - show up at 9.45. Or if not, at least try 10.30. Notice what is around you, and what has been done to make each service a special one. There might even be something you could do.......
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