March 2010

Dear friends,

As I write this column, it is less than three weeks after that well-known February holiday...Groundhog Day! Now, I have to admit that Groundhog Day has always had me confused. Every year, I think that if the sun shines, it must be the anticipation of spring. No more winter, right! Actually, as probably all of you know, it is exactly the opposite. If the sun shines, the groundhog sees his shadow, gets scared and retreats to his burrow to spend the next six weeks. Whew!—did I get it right this time? I hope so. Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow, so apparently we still have six more weeks of winter ahead...three and a half from now if you are counting with me.

Believe it or not, I have noticed an interesting, and almost predictable connection between Groundhog Day and church. Somewhere around that famous day, give or take a week or two, people seem to retreat to their homes. They may get out for dinner or for social events or for a movie or meal, but they do not seem to make it to worship!!! A lot of other things go on as usual, but worship becomes secondary...or even further down the line of priorities.

The same God keeps pouring out blessing after blessing. But He does not draw enough of our attention that we want to glorify Him corporately with others on a regular basis. Worship is no longer essential...or even important to us. That sounds strange when we put it that way, doesn’t it? It almost sounds like we have taken a break from God...or that we really don’t need Him as long as we have our warm house. But God longs to meet with us, to show us His love again, and to receive heart-felt worship from us. And, believe it or not, we were made for worship. If we don’t worship Him, then we will worship someone or something else.

Assuming we all want to worship this glorious, magnificent God, who is always worthy, let me tell you about two special times ahead when we will do that together as one congregation…

Sunday, March 28…Palm Sunday...one service at 10:00am. Our choir will present the beautiful Easter musical: “Amazing Grace”

Sunday, April 4...Easter Day…also one service at 10:00am. We will celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus as one!

See you in worship,

Pastor Jerry