Today felt like an old fashioned Sunday.

I went to church and worshiped. I was blessed by a wonderful spirit among God’s people gathered to glorify his name, spend time in prayer, and listen to his holy word preached with clarity and earnestness.

Then I didn’t go home and watch the Packer game. I repeat, I sinned against the secular gods by not tuning in the green and gold.

Instead, Kathy and I drove to Milwaukee to spend time with family.  We met Brittany and Eric over a lunch at a local spot called the “Brass Key.”  A family owned restaurant with good seafood and Greek delights.  No national chain here just honest well done service and food.

We then went over to see where the newlyweds are making their first home.  Kathy talked wedding photos with  Brittany and Eric turned on the TV to watch the very last minutes of the Packer game.  But it was not the center of our Sunday.  It was more of a passing glance.

Worship with God’s family and then visiting with family on a Sunday afternoon and not around a TV set.  There is something to be said about an old fashioned Sunday.  It was gold.

What a full morning with God’s people!  We are back to the full schedule and had a thrilling re-entry into ministry today! Early service, teaching confirmation, late service, and potluck lunch.

I asked an usher after the late service what the totals were. We had approximately 100 more people with two services – contemporary (well done worship team!) and traditional (way to go choir!).  Seems people have a preference for style of worship. But my t-shirt was soaked after wearing the pulpit robe!  This September is warm like July.  What a string of sunny days we have enjoyed!

It was a good morning.  I’m tired but is a good tired for a Sunday Afternoon in September!

1. Better Poetry.

2. Better Theology.

3. Four part harmony.

4. Helps children learn to read and count.

5. Is good for your lungs and heart and soul.

6. The reason we sing hymns instead of hers is the same reason we say Amen instead of Awoman…

Hymns and songs.  With blended worship “traditionalists” are unfamiliar with contemporary songs.  And some think the singers up front are “performing” for the “audience.”  And some “modernists” don’t like slow and ancient hymns.  Well then, think about the lyrics that teach us about God and faith.

Therefore, in blended worship, the congregational singing suffers.

Try to sing with the whole congregation.  On verse one learn the tune.  On verse two try singing along.  On verse three enjoy the praise of God.  Bring your attitude into a worshipful mode. That is the key – attitude.

Why are we in church?  To worship GOD.

Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth:

Set up your kingdom in our midst.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God:

Have mercy on me, a sinner.

Holy Spirit, breath of the living God:

Renew me and all the world.

-by Bishop N.T.Wright

This Sunday we will not “shake hands” during the greeting time.  Nor will I be at the back of church shaking hands as people leave.  I asked one of the nurses in our church what we should do as a church.  This is what she put in an email:

First of all we pray. We need to encourage not overreacting. We have to keep in mind that the symptoms are the same as regular influenza. The flu vaccine does not protect us against swine flu, but it might help the symptoms to be lessened. Every year thousands of people die from regular influenza.  Hand washing is vital. I suggest that we encourage parishioners to stay home if they have flu like symptoms…cough, fever, fatigue, body aches, and rarely vomiting and diarrhea. Also we could have a bottles of alcohol hand gel and tissues readily available.  If parishioners are uncomfortable shaking hands, they should refrain from doing so: but hugging is OK. They should cough into their elbow or shoulder; not into their hands.  Also eating donut holes and chocolate helps to build up your immunity (I added that last part). Pat

So let’s pray and hope this quickly spreading flu can be halted.

We had a wonderful time connecting with a tradition among Jewish people as we experienced a Seder meal in our church Fellowship Hall.

Jane Davis did a superior job organizing and cooking the meal.  Great volunteers added to a memorable night!

Andy Hopp’s family provided the leadership and we made it through singing the long “Dayenu.”

Did you enjoy the evening?

Today I have made the services move from the opening song of “Hosanna” to the Passion of Christ.  Why?  In my experience I have noticed that “the crowd” of Sunday church goers skips Good Friday.  If people come on both Palm Sunday and Easter and do not attend any other Holy Week services they short circuit the CROSS.  And Easter is meaningless without the pain and suffering of the Cross.

So I focus my sermon on the passion and death of Christ.  The Gospels focus more on this event than his other ministries.  So we must “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”  We must dig down, see the dirt on our hands, before we can eat the fruit. There is a strange beauty in the theater of Calvary.

I am preaching from Psalm 22 – watch the video…

When you go to worship and before you leave your home pray this prayer:

Lord, I want to meet you today.  Prepare my heart to hear from you.  Make me a giver – giving you praise, giving you my full attention, giving to those brothers and sisters in my family a smile, a good word, and encouragement.

Jesus, you are the greatest teacher.  Help our preacher stay close to you and shine through their words and voice and expressions.  May your name be glorified by what I offer you in prayer, praise and song.  If I learn something new, thank you.  If I am reminded of something I already know and need to obey, thank you.  If I don’t learn anything, forgive me for not listening for your voice.  Amen.

Prayer of Approach (Voiced, with congregational response)
Voice 1 : Come, Holy Spirit, come, and renew the whole creation.
Send the wind and flame of your transforming life to lift up the church in this day.
Give wisdom and faith that we may know the great hope to which we are called.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Congregational Response :Come Holy Spirit and renew the whole creation.
Voice 2 : Giver of life, sustain your creation.
Confront us with our greedy consuming of your gifts.
Stand before us as we pillage and destroy.
Lead us into new harmonies of care for all that lives and breathes and has its being.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Response : Come Holy Spirit and renew the whole creation.
Voice 3 : Spirit of truth, set us free to emerge as the children of God.
Open our ears that we may hear the weeping of the world.
Open our mouths that we may be a voice for the voiceless.
Open our eyes that we may see your vision of peace and justice.
Make us alive with the courage and faith of your gospel truth.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Response :Come Holy Spirit and renew the whole creation.
Voice 4 : Spirit of unity, reconcile your people.
Give us the wisdom to hold to what we need to be your church.
Give us the grace to lay down those things that you can do without.
Give us a vision of your breadth and length and height that will challenge our smallness of heart and bring us humbly together. Come, Holy Spirit!
Response :Come Holy Spirit and renew the whole creation.
Voice 5 : Spirit of life and power,
transform our dreams  that we may be your people.
Give us the gifts we need.
Walk with us on the road as we risk living your way in spirit and in truth.
Come, Holy Spirit!
Response :Come Holy Spirit and renew the whole creation.
Amen.
(Based on Come Holy Spirit Renew the Whole Creation,  in Falla, Terry C ‘Be our Freedom Lord’)