September 24 – “Day Four: Big Church”

The big day at Josh’s new church went very well.  Josh preached twice in the morning and once more in the evening.  Actually, the one in the evening was more of a teaching style.  Much more relaxed.  He used a white board and explained everything there is to know about the trinity.  How’s that for a big start?  Anything else he teaches on now will be somewhat anticlimactic, won’t it? 

In the morning the first service was billed as their “traditional” one.  They had a full choir, piano and organ, and even a 29 piece orchestra.  I have a question.  Why do orchestras always dress in black?  Are they trying to hide or something?  It just always seems kind of ominous.  They were really good, though.  The sound kind of exploded when they tuned up.  We sang mostly hymns, with a mix of choruses added in.  The room was pretty much packed as well.  There were some places still open in the balcony, though.  Plenty of room to grow.  Sunday School followed, and then they started their “contemporary” service.  For that one they cleared out all the orchestra chairs, hauled off the pulpit, and set up amplifiers for an electric guitar and a bass.  A praise team led the singing.  Bass, lead electric, acoustic, female singer, drums, and the music minister sang while playing the piano.  The music was mostly choruses and contemporary songs this time.  The room was still quite full, but there didn’t appear to be as many as in the first service. 

The cultural differences between those attending each service were instantly different.  The first one was more coats and ties and dress to the hilt.  The second was looser, more of a casual business Friday look.  Even the small talk after the first service felt more formal.  That is until Caleb started chasing me all over the room.  Well, OK.  I confess.  I was the one chasing him.  It really loosened everyone up a bit, though.  The second group was much more casual in attire and demeanor.  Guess which one I felt more comfortable with?

After that first service Zak called me over and conspiratorially whispered, “Hey, DadDad, there’s donuts all over this place.”  I replied in my best not-too-loud-so-no one-else-can-hear voice, “Well, let’s go find some of them.”  So Caleb joined us and we disappeared in a valiant quest for donuts.  We found some, too, with the help of a kindly old usher-type guy.  That was enough to hold us over through Sunday School and the second service. 

After church we went out to lunch with some folks from South Oaks Baptist Church in Arlington who drove down to give Josh some extra encouragement.  Shows the effect Josh has already had on folks in his ministry.  Things bode well for you, Columbus Avenue Baptist Church.

Psalms 112:5 says, “Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.”

Father, thank you for a great start.  Grant Columbus Avenue some momentum for the future.  Amen.