Pastor’s Pen: [ November 16 ] B H 5:45pm Fellowship Hall
[ November 24 ] T C M 11:00am ‐ 1:00pm Fellowship Hall
[ November 27 ] S O C 4:00pm Duke Chapel
Our church has a feature page in each month's issue of Word & Way. The November focus is children in worship. In a recent sermon, I showed a picture of a trellis or rose arbor. A er the service, an excited six‐year‐old ran up to me and proudly handed me a picture of a trellis which he had drawn with crayons during the sermon. Did I keep that picture? You'd be er believe I did! This li le worshiper and many of his friends remind us that worship is an experience which should engage all of our senses.
Another children‐in‐worship story: One Sunday this summer, our projec on system quit working. So Rod Maples, our worship pastor, wisely started lining the words of our praise choruses (that is, he "fed" us the lines of each phrase as we came to them). After services, a parent told me that she and her husband had had a wonderful worship experience with their preschool daughter. Because she is not yet reading, their li le girl could follow Rod's oral instruc ons and more fully enter into the worship music. Again, a reminder that our typical worship some mes excludes those with reading, hearing or other language‐cultural differences or limita ons.
When I was in seminary studying worship, a fellow student (from another country) reminded the class, "Words can exclude." He challenged us to always consider heart appeal, inviting people to worship through visual images and Christian symbols, not merely through talk. Let's remember that our en re Se ng Sail process is about following God into a culturally relevant, scripturally sound future.
@fbcjc @fbcjcmo FBCJC FBCJC
Speaking of a future on solid foo ng, it's that me of year‐‐stewardship awareness! We are having a very strong year financially and I want to say a sincere thank you for your faithfulness, sacrifice and generosity. You constantly amaze me and make me proud. Please be a en ve as you hear reports and as you receive a mailing of the proposed 2017 budget. A special Bible lesson is being prepared for small groups. A budget hearing is set for November 16 and the budget vote will be December 14. Please take me to engage in though ul, prayerful dialogue about your part in our great future, as we set sail together. Grace,