Service Interrupted, and “this grace in which we stand”
It’s amazing the things that go through your mind when you’re leading music in a church service.
Is that speaker working now? Maybe we need to replace the cord. Are the musicians together? What in the world is that kid over there doing? How did that dog get in here?
… and hopefully you’re actually singing to the Lord, and thinking about the message of the songs!
This past Sunday our theme was grace. It’s surprising that we don’t sing more songs with this theme, but we did squeeze in some oldies on Sunday such as Amazing Grace, I Know Whom I Have Believed, and Wonderful Grace of Jesus (one of the first songs Shari and I learned in Spanish, actually).
The way I was facing I could see the door to the property, and I noticed that a woman (that I didn’t recognize) was standing there. The logical thing to do would be to catch the eye of the woman who owns the property, but the speaker was blocking my view of her. I made a couple of lame attempts to catch someone else’s eye, but I was in the middle of a song and it just wasn’t happening.
When the song (and actually the music set) was done, I was relieved to see that someone was already back there talking to her.
It wasn’t until after the service that I found out that she wanted to talk to me. Well, not me specifically, but “the pastor”.
She was long gone by then, so I never spoke to her, but from what I ascertained she wanted to talk to someone because she was concerned about her son, who was suicidal.
Out of the three countries in North America, if I recall correctly, Mexico has had the lowest suicide rate. But it’s been rising, even before last year. No doubt, as in all three countries, it’s been rising more quickly over the past few months.
And so this young man (who you could pray for) represents so many others!
This woman was invited to come back next Sunday, but unfortunately we don’t know who she is or where she’s from. But we are talking about getting a sign up so that people know we’re there every Sunday, and that they’re welcome. (Yes, rather basic, I realize – but remember, we still think of this location in some ways as “temporary” because we can’t meet in the place we were renting a year ago.)
We are thankful for our Lord Jesus Christ. “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:2) That is the hope that so many need!
I am reminded of this again as I prepare for the second part of our biblical anthropology series this Sunday. The gospel is so precious. Please pray that we would share it freely.