First Sunday at Sunscape

1/4/2009

For the first time in many months, I set the alarm clock for 6:30 AM, because I did not want to be late to early choir warm-ups at 8:00 AM.  Don, as well, wanted to get to the church/community center to prepare for Communion this morning.  Church starts at 8:50 AM and is scheduled to be over at 10:00 AM.  We went a few minutes over this morning, but we heard no complaints.

Even though it was cool cloudy and threatening rain, 215 folks showed up to worship the LORD and hear the new pastor.

Don and I walked to church; Don had a little anxious energy he needed to burn this morning.  Notice the clouds. I didn't take pictures this morning during church, but just imagine almost every chair filled.  The singing was wonderful!  And Don had a few "Amen-ers" in the congregation which is always an encouragement to a preacher. (I just noticed these poinsettias are still beautiful... maybe they're artificial.)

There was one lady this morning who made a point to come to me in the choir area to introduce herself to me and tell me that her husband, recently home from the hospital, was at home praying for the new pastor, all morning.  I asked her if she had talked to Don to tell him this encouragement and she had.  Thelma and Jim, we love you already.

Don's sermon this morning was his testimony:  "The Joy of Being Found" - Luke 15:11-24.  I always love hearing Don's life story, but he didn't have time to tell it all this morning.

The Remembrance Service was just that and very special, as it always is to us, as we remember, individually and corporately, what Jesus Christ has done for us.

Let me just say:  I LOVE being in the choir!

As we stood at the door while folks left, everyone was so friendly and welcoming to us.  One lady told Don that he was funny.  Another lady told him that he made her cry.  (His testimony does invoke various emotions, especially when he tells it.)

We can hardly wait to get to know everyone better and be a part of this community.

Immediately after church, Jim & Betty celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary across the breezeway in the club house.  Jim sang a song to Betty as he played the guitar. Here they are 61 years ago. Congratulations to Jim & Betty.

Afterwards, seventeen people from church drove over to Duffer's in Arizona City for brunch.  We rode with Ray and Jean on the left.  Ray said "grace" at our table. There was a pole in my way so I had to take two pictures of the other table. Fran, next to Don, and his wife, Linnea, were the first to come visit us when we arrived last Thursday.  Linnea is our choir director.

It was a great first Sunday at Sunscape RV Resort as chaplains, pastor and residents.