Hello friends! Sherri and I were gone for 3 & 1/2 weeks on the European portion of our renewal. We visited Vienna and Salzberg in Austria; Leipzig and Wittenberg in Germany; and London, Liverpool and Cambridge in England. Sherri kept calling it the "trip of a lifetime" and she was certainly correct. We received multiple blessings. Made some new friends. Saw things that we'd only dreamed about. Above all, God blessed and protected and helped us all the way from the time we boarded our plane here in Phx. until we landed again last Friday, July 1 (in 116 degree temps!).
I'll be sharing stories and pictures from our trip on the blog. But today I wanted to tell you about the trip we made over to the east valley on Sunday for worship.
Sherri and I worshipped at Christ's Greenfield Lutheran Church in Gilbert. This church does something interesting with their schedule. On the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month, all of their services are "contemporary." On the second and fourth Sundays the services are "traditional."
Being the first Sunday of the month, we were there for the contemporary service.
Interestingly, their approach was identical to the LCMS church in Prescott. All the music in the service had been written within the last 10 years. But the songs were placed within a liturgical, divine worship service setting. Music was provided by a single vocalist, pianist, two guitars and a base guitar.
I find this approach appealing. What I have often noticed missing from most contemporary or praise services is the Word of God. What folks sometimes forget is that the liturgy is God's Word. The pastor speaks God's Word to the people and the people speak God's Word in response. What good music it must be to the Lord to hear His children speak His Word to Him! Not only that, some praise services I've attended have only included one reading - the text the preacher is using for that day. In our services we read from Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel. The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God, strengthening faith and filling hearts with peace and joy and love. God's Word must be an integral part of worship.
We are slowing adjusting our bodies back to Arizona time. It's been a bit of a challenge. Jet lag it us pretty hard. And we knew it was hot - we had gotten some updates from family when we checked in. Still, does anyone ever get used to 116 degrees! Not me.
When we came through customs, the officer there said to Sherri and I, "Welcome home!" It it good to be home.
