Twenty years ago Cindy and I attended the Nazarene church in Howell Michigan. Howell was a small close knit community not unlike Potsdam. One could hardly walk a single block without running into a warm and familiar face. Howell Naz, though a very large church was just like the community, familiar and warm.
On any given Sunday as 600 people were making their way from the various Sunday School classes offered and into the sanctuary, the crowd buzzed with life. There were the joyous sounds of countless conversations as people caught up on what has happened in the week since they last met. There were the reverbs of the laughter of both young and old. The pounding footsteps of children as they chased each other back and fourth, ducking in and out between the adults legs, engaged in a quick game of tag…which no one seemed to mind.
I remember as if it were yesterday the cover of the bulletin that was one of the only constant thing in the life of that church.
It Read: “We desire to be an alive church:
Accepting. Loving…
Interesting…
Vibrant….
Exciting…..”
Every week I would read that and say to myself, we just don’t desire that…we are alive!
Now 20 years later, each and every Sunday morning I am transported back in time as I wait in my office top pray with the men of the church…
Or mingle with people. I can hear countless conversations between friends catching up on the weeks events. I hear joyous laughter from both young and old that seem to vibrate the frame to my door. I open my eyes and see some children ducking in and out of the adults legs, you know, playing a quick game of tag…which no one seems to mind…
I smile because these are the signs of life, not in Howell, but here at the Naz…
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do,whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”-Colossians 3:12-17
…As I grab hold of the hand of those on either side of me, readying for prayer, I give thanks to God because there is no other place where I would rather be than in the midst of the signs of life.
In Christ
Pastor Bud