Lauraine Snelling by Saturday Morning (v5)

Author:Saturday Morning (v5)
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780307551108
Publisher: a cognizant original v5 release october 16 2010
Published: 2005-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

“Good morning!”

“Good morning,” the congregation answered rather weakly, but Hope smiled at them with all the love she always shared so freely.

“Welcome to worship at Casa de Jesus this Sunday morning. Our opening song is Our God Is an Awesome God.’ You’ll find the words in your bulletin.” She nodded to Roger, who held his guitar at the ready. He played the opening chords, and between the two of them, they led the singing.

“Our God is an awesome God … ” Both the words and music always gave her a thrill. Much as “Holy, Holy, Holy” did those first years of her new life. Every Sunday, to open the service, they sang two praise songs and one hymn so that people would not forget the great hymns. Today her congregation broke into harmony on “Beautiful Savior,” and she had all she could do to keep from crying.

When Roger sat down, Hope stood and tucked her bulletin inside her Bible. “I know that when you sing like that, we are all experiencing a little bit of what the music will be like in heaven. Let us pray.”

As the rustling settled, she used a deep breath to calm herself, to prepare for the message. “Heavenly Father, we thank You for the privilege of worshiping You in freedom, all of us together; that we have a place to meet, to draw closer as members of Your family. We rejoice that You are our Father, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, that with You there is no shadow of change. We ask You to bless our worship today, that we may grow closer to You minute by minute. In Jesus’s precious name, amen.”

The “amen” returned, and Roger stood to lead the simple liturgy. He sang a line, and they all repeated it.

“Holy Father.” They sang it back.

“Jesus, Son of God.” His voice rose, lifting those who followed.

“Holy Spirit, Teacher of us all.”

Hope watched her people singing, some so serious, others smiling. Some with lifted hands. A little girl swaying in time to the music.

“We worship You, we praise You, we sing Your names forever. Amen, amen, amen.” Roger had written the words and set them to simple music so that all could take part.

“Celia will read our lesson, and then together well read the psalm.”

Celia left her folding chair in the front row, took a couple steps forward, and turned to face the gathering. “Our lesson today is from Paul’s letter to the Ephesian people, and I am reading from The Message so we can all understand it better. Got that?”

Hope had to smile at Celia’s small addition. Many of their people didn’t read well, and the more contemporary words made more sense to them.

Roger led them in the first verse of “Spirit of the Living God” before the gospel.

Hope had been preaching a series on the miracles Jesus performed, so she read the story of the man who could walk again. She prayed for guidance and wisdom, and that all would have ears to hear, and then she let the silence stretch.

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