One Week
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[November 12, 2010]
--One
week doesn't seem like a very big deal. After all, one week is
followed by another, and another, and another. It takes four or five
to make a month; fifty two to make a year. One week; what can really
happen in one week? Well, let me tell you about one week. On Sunday,
October 17, many of you gathered for worship in our sanctuary. You
sang hymns, offered prayers, gave of your money, and heard the Word
of God proclaimed. At this same time, nine of your brothers and
sisters were huddled together in Tower Grove Park in St. Louis,
where we prayed for one another before heading to worship at Oak
Hill Presbyterian Church. On the way back to the church, one of our
number said, "I feel like I've already worshipped." Indeed. Later
that day, this same group of nine would head to the Campus Kitchens
at St. Louis University, where we would prepare an evening meal to
be delivered to some of St. Louis' poor, that they might have a
fresh meal on their Sunday evening.
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On Tuesday, the Christian Education was converted into a mobile
health center. The doors were unlocked, and the family, friends and
acquaintances of Joyce Kinzie poured into the room. For six hours
(it was supposed to last five), the people of Lincoln waited
patiently to give blood in what seems to have been the most
successful blood drive in Lincoln history. By the time it was done,
94 people had given blood. The deacons had doled out hundreds of
cookies, cups of orange juice, and Vintage Fare sandwiches, and soon
someone else's Joyce will have our blood nourishing her body as she
fights a terrible illness.
On Wednesday, this same space that, just the day before, looked like
a field hospital, will host people as they come together in
fellowship over the dinner table, worship of God, and study of the
Gospel of Luke. Children will run in from school, anxious to sing
and play. Their parents will carry their Bibles into my study to
spend a few quieter minutes with the story of Jesus. More will come
and settle in the sanctuary for worship and communion. By the time
the evening ends, around eight o'clock, people will have been
nourished in every way possible.
Over the duration of the week, the deacons will send out cards, the
sick will be viisited, dozens and dozens of prayers will be offered,
people will gather to disucss the budget and the coming stewardship
campaign, and the final preparations for Sunday worship will be
completed. Then Sunday will come, and we will all gather again to
worship Christ together.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2010/Sep/16/images/ads/current/christianvillage%20ldh%20061407.jpg)
This is but one week. One week of work, prayer, and worship. One
week of singing, compassion and service. In one week this
congregation has ministered to those in need, worshipped, studied,
prayed and sung our faith, and continued the work of the Church of
Jesus. And, lest we forget ourselves, we have done all this, all
this work, solely because we have been called to serve Jesus Christ.
All these things testify to the truth that the Christian faith is an
active, vibrant, life-changing gift. One week. All of this happened
in one week. So what do you want to do next week?
[text from file received by Phil Blackburn, First Presbyterian
Church] |