Almost every Sunday morning I walk to the pulpit and say the same thing.
"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
It's a quote from Psalm 118, and one that I love.
I started saying this my first year as a pastor here, really without thinking. I stepped up to the pulpit, said, "Good morning!" and this was the next thing that came out of my mouth.
That's how God works sometimes.
Yet there are Sundays where I hesitate before I say this. Sometimes our community has been wrecked with grief, losing several beloved people over the course of a couple of weeks. Other times there have been national tragedies that weigh heavily on everyone's hearts. Occasionally I just plain old don't feel up to it. It's been a morning where my son spit up on my last clean skirt, I spilled coffee into my shoes, and it's sleeting again.
Still, this is the day.
Come rain or shine, come joy or sorrow, come Lent or Easter. Come what may.
This is the day.
Let us rejoice.
Our church's name is "Good News Church" and at the very end of EVERY service our pastor stands in front and reads a portion of scripture that has been highlighted in his sermon. And at the end of his reading he ALWAYS says, "And that's Good News." It is my very favorite thing of all.
ReplyDeleteBecky - I love this! I might even borrow it from time to time. What a great way to end a service!
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