Ugh...sometimes I wish Church could be at 7pm! Service starts at 9:30...and at 9 I was still in bed...but I made it...I love the 930 service more than the 8 and 11...not sure why...I went by myself today and sat by myself...I thought today I needed the space so I wasn't distracted by the normal small chat I make with my friend during the service, or the distraction of watching her daughter play in her seat...and today's message was Unity and Community...Oh...so I start scooching towards the other members...LOL...
We had a guest pastor Tom Chapin from San Diego that was incredibly inspiring. (Our pastor is away on sabbatical for 7 weeks-- Its funny as I'm "friends" with the pastor on FB so I see his status updates and photo uploads from his iPhone all the time.) Church sure is different from what I could remember from the few times in my youth of going...hard pews, a choir with long daunting robes, a priest citing scripture and being bored. That's why I love this church...the pastor is hip, funny, the seats are cushioned and the stage is in beautiful hues of blue that look like the moon's light is reflecting on the ocean waters. There are beautiful rugs, lamps and luminaries of bright colors on the stage that make it very welcoming...only thing I don't like is all the standing, but if feels wrong to sit while everyone is swinging their hips, tapping their feet and clapping their hands as they sing along. So I stand... = )
Oh so the message...about Unity and Community...what I pulled from the message today was mending a broken relationship. And while the relationship that came to mind that is newly broken, I still felt as a person who is trying to build a relationship with God and be a better person, needed to reach out and apologize. So I started to write during the service on the tithing envelope what I wanted to say...in short, it was two sentences...and I apologized for not being gracious and hateful, ending it with best wishes...I told my sister I wasn't sure if it was my conscious that was making me feel this way, and she reassured me it was God talking to me. I liked that. So the message was sent, and I honestly feel better...so I ask you..what relationship can you mend, whether it is an ex, a working relationship, neighbor or family member? Maybe reaching out and attempting to mend that relationship will make things better for you in however it is meant to be better. Just do it for the right reasons.
So I see why Church is now in the morning~it allows my Sunday to be great all day!
"There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community." M. Scott Peck.
