Fellowship hour will be special this Sunday. We're going to hang around and have a BBQ together. We'll supply the meat. You can bring side dishes if you wish. (But you don't have to bring anything...you can just come to eat!)
The idea for this sprang from something that happened a couple winters ago. School was on Christmas break. Families were gone. The weather was lousy...stormy that Sunday. As soon as I got up and looked outside I knew that church would be empty. And it was. We had maybe 20 people that morning.
But the most amazing thing happened. Our fellowship people had brought cookies, we had some leftovers from Christmas, and the coffee was brewed. Everybody in church that day came downstairs. And they stayed. And they talked. And they ate. And they stayed and talked some more. It was a small group, but it was just like family. It was the most magical, wonderful fellowship time I can remember. Everybody left enriched and uplifted.
This Sunday will be Fourth of July weekend. Many of our folks will be gone or busy with family. The turnout for worship probably won't be huge. But you know what? If there aren't going to be a ton of people there, the ones who do come might as well eat well! Good times and good spirits are where you find them, right? And we're finding them in barbecue fun, great food, and each other. We're going to make the day special for the folks who come. So bring an appetite, maybe a lawn chair if it's sunny, and let's celebrate!
Jesus ministered with, and in front of, plenty of different people. When he spoke in front of great crowds he delivered powerful sermons. But some of his most influential and important moments happened among a small group of disciples. Many of the most intimate, personally powerful events in his ministry happened between him and just one person. He never said, "This isn't going to work unless you gather me 10,000 people." Instead he found and shared the Spirit in every moment, among groups large and small. That's what we're doing too!
So come and enjoy the BBQ if you're around. Invite friends too! It'll be a grand time.
--Pastor Dave (pastordave@geneseelutheranparish.org)
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