Yesterday I was back at my usual job for a Sunday morning, as on-line pastor. I am really enjoying this new work. My job starts at about 9:15 A.M. I open my computer and start “inviting people to church”. Mostly that just involves a check in on Facebook Messenger.
I sign onto the church livestream when it comes on, and then from my little perch in the church cafe I begin to engage with people attending the on-line service: I comment as the sermon goes along; I “like” and comment on what other people are saying; Sometimes I move to a private message format so I can go a little deeper with people who are popping up on my feed or sometimes even just in my head.
Who I don’t see walking through the church door in the morning or on-line is just as important as who does come to…
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. 3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. 5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.
6 May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, 7 to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, 9 to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people.
Check out their blogs when you have finished here and give them a shout out from me.
Here are Melanie and Roger’s sharing questions and my answers:
What happened to cause you to discover ‘bullies” were real?
My mother was a working woman as far back as I can remember. Some of the babysitters my sister and I were left with had kids who were less than kind. I remember one little girl who used to hit us with toys when her mother wasn’t looking. I remember another kid teasing us about how our mother didn’t love us because she worked and she was probably never coming back for us….So I learned about bullies early on.
Eavesdropping- When given the chance, how often do you eavesdrop? (this may be a similar question to what some folks said they’d do with an invisibility cloak)
I try really hard not to eavesdrop.I will admit it is a part of human nature I struggle with. I think it is a power thing…knowledge is power and all that.
I am always mindful that because I am a Pastor people will frequently try to listen in on my conversations in church settings. I have actually had people come up behind me and plant themselves in a pew while I am trying to have a conversation with another congregant. A few times I have actually had to tell people kindly of course, “This is a private conversation. If you would like to wait over there for me I will speak with you when I am done.”
Escalators, at one time, were the ‘next big thing’. When was the last time you rode an escalator?
I love escalators. The bigger the better. It has been a while, but I love to ride the escalator down into Alewife Station in Boston. I think that is the last escalator I rode, so that would be over a year ago.
Have you ever ‘let’ someone win in a sports competition or a board game? How did it turn out?
I used to throw board games all the time when I was a kid. I would get sick of playing and do what I had to do to “get out”. It usually worked out well. I could then go and read or watch TV so “win-win” errr…”lose-win”.
Do our fears start with our DNA? (Credit to Rory)
I think most things start with our DNA. That said we have a great deal of say over where our DNA takes us. It is nature/nurture and personal responsibility that determine our course not just one of those things.
If you could have your hair any colour for 24 hours, what colour would you choose? (Credit to Sandmanjazz)
I would be shiny silver.
When do you think a person gets old? (Credit to Rory)
When they decide they are old.
GRATITUDE SECTION (as always this is optional)
Please feel free to write about an uplifting moment in your life this week!
Today has been a wonderful day. I have been able to keep to a very fluid schedule which has helped me to accomplish a lot. This music has been helping me along the path all day. I love Celtic Music. I love a day with no unexpected interruptions and lots of fun music.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. 3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. 4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, 6 and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, 8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, 9 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, 10 wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, 11 kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, 12 young men and women, old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. 14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[b] the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
What does it mean that God has raised up a horn for His people?
Lillie-Put 