What an Incredible Weekend

My heart is full as I write this entry. Something shifted in the past week, like when dirt settles into a pot. I’ve been attending my church for a little over 4 ½ months, yet in the last week since I attended the first membership class, until the end of PM Worship service last night, I felt myself settle into place. It’s hard to put into words and I spent the drive home last night just praising God for the incredible joy I felt even though I’d been running on very little sleep.

Let me recap my weekend for you. A weekend full of the study of God’s Word, sweet fellowship and solid, heart-felt Biblical teaching.

Friday night, I attended my first “Secret Church” with about a dozen others from our church. We joined in with 50K people around the world to study the life of Elijah the Prophet, learn about the persecuted church and pray together for those who are persecuted for His namesake. The stories shared from Nepal are forever etched on my heart and I will never take for granted the gift of freely worshipping my God and owning my own Bible. Six hours of study and prayer was the longest session I’ve ever done in my life.
Saturday! After a long night, you’d think I would be sleeping in Saturday morning. But no, I could not fall asleep no matter what I tried, until after 5:30 am. I was up at 10 am to get things done before heading to a small gathering of women from the church for a tea luncheon. There were 10 of there, ages 8 - mid 60s. It was so great to get to know these ladies a bit better. I attend a church where morning service is easily 240-260 people. That’s really large for me after my 2 ½ years in a church plant where the attendance average was 40 people on Sunday morning. Oh, and hey, it was a tea party. Sounds silly, but it’s just more confirmation that God wanted me here, in this place, at this time in my life. It’s so wonderful how my church provides opportunities for the girls, teens, young adult ladies, married, widowed to gather together and fellowship. I am so blessed by those who are in the same season of life as me, and even more blessed to be able to have incredible conversations with young ladies preparing for college, or the younger girls in the church. My age gives me life experience; it doesn’t mean that I am above learning from those who are younger than me.
Sunday - My Sundays are all church. In the morning I attend Sunday school, and the AM worship. This Sunday I attended a luncheon hosted by the Elders and Deacons of our church for new attendees at Calvary. Great food, greater fellowship and getting to know people I serve alongside. At the end I slipped into the kitchen to help clean-up. More hands make the work go by faster.
After lunch I went home, fed the hubby (still praying for his salvation) and grabbed an hour nap, before getting dressed again and heading back to church for the second membership class. I love this process. Our Pastors and Elders have put so much thought into the membership process. We’re using a book by Thom S. Rainer, I Am a Church Member. They’ve been incredibly open to questions and sharing what the foundations are for the church and what their roles, as pastors are based on Biblical principles.

The care and deep, deep love of the Word is evident in not only our pastors but also the elders, the deacons and the entire congregation. To use a phrase by Pastor Tim, “There’s a sweet unity here at Calvary and we want to protect and nurture that.”
Finished a great membership class and walked over to the church for evening worship service. Missionaries talked to us about their work, the challenges they face and what is planned for the future. It was quite informative.

I realized that I felt differently after the weekend. Since walking through the doors, my goal was to let God lead. With each passing week I met more people, felt wonderfully challenged to push deeper in my personal study of the Bible, and embrace this season of life a.k.a. the senior years. It’s hard to put into words the way I felt on that drive home Sunday evening. It was like setting a puzzle piece in place and having it fit perfectly. Something clicked and the peace I feel at this church was felt deep in my soul.

I’m locked in and it’s an amazing feeling.

Peace,
B

Life Since Changing Churches