Pastor's Weekly Word

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:13-14)

What a weekend of music! On Sunday morning we had two incredible worship experiences. At 9am our worship team led us in an incredible experience of worship with the music of the season. Then at 11:05, our talented choir and orchestra, directed by David Hays, presented Handel's Messiah. It was outstanding. And finally, later that evening we gathered around the tree in the Atrium of the church, drank hot chocolate, ate cookies, and sang Christmas carols. It was great.

To me, there is something quite holy about a church at night. I often feel a sense of peace and calm, more so then than during the day. It is an almost irreplaceable feeling, the one you get at a church at night when people sing together and deeply want to do so. That’s the feeling I had Sunday night, the kind of feeling you have when you sense the presence of God right there with you in the room.

I wonder what people driving by that night thought. As cars drove south on North Star Road and looked over to see the light on in the church windows and the tree and a room full of people around it singing together. What did they think when they saw us there? Who knows? There is part of me that wonders if those passing by looking in on us as we sang gained a small sense of Christmas joy, the kind of joy that can grow into something more. Perhaps they experienced a smidgeon of that almost irreplaceable feeling that God is right there with them. Perhaps that’s what they felt as they passed by the angels in the Atrium Sunday night.