Church

I hear that you can tell how old you are by the watch you wear — or don’t wear.

If you are over thirty, you wear a watch.  If you are under thirty you use your cell phone.

So, what time is it?  Where did you look?

As our church service ended today, we called everyone to the front of the building.  After clearing off the platform, we arranged ourselves — 87 of us — into a coherent whole.  Everyone’s face was there!

Why?

We have partnered with missionaries in Japan.  They work with two churches.  As a part of being more personally involved with each other, we will exchange our picture.  Some are planning on visiting Asia in the next while and will stop in Japan to just say “Hi.”  Others are working on setting up a short-term missions trip to Japan.  We are also hoping to get the pastor from the one church to come visit us.

With all of these thoughts, the easiest thing is to get the group together when we are all there!  The invitation was given to end the service by coming forward instead of heading out the back door.  The children joined us and soon the platform was full.

Where are the pictures?  Still in the cameras of the photographers.  In keeping with sharing the work of ministry, three people took pictures.  We will gather the digital pictures this coming week.  The plan is to forward them to Japan within the week. 

Amazing what email and the digital camera can do to bring us closer together!

Not that the baby didn’t show up! 

Lexi was there — a very beautiful 8 week old.  Sleeping and waking just to smile and be perky.  Exactly what a new mom treasures and guests adore!

The idea was just to come over and see the parents (Cliff and Tanis) and enjoy the baby.  Of course, in my ignorance of etiquette, I’m thinking that’s all we will do.  But, there was a need for a card.  And a small gift for the baby.  And a card for the grandparents.  Along with a small gift. 

Of course, the hostess had prepared great mincemeat cake, Naniamo bars, celery sticks and radishes, brownies, and many other delectable treats that satisfied the palate.  And we sat in groups and talked.  Things about weather, kids, relationships and church. 

When we were done, we left  — with that “I’m glad I came” feeling.  We could have stayed longer.  But in our leaving we look forward to meeting once again.

Now that’s a party! 

This last week has been one of church planning, visiting and deciding.

In the midst of all this, I’ve had little time to surf the web.  I missed it!

A few decades ago I would never have made that statement! 

In 1986 I was serving as a Teacher’s Assistant while completing my Master of Library Science.  The computer was just becoming a home appliance.  In my earlier high school days I had done some computer programming and enjoyed it thoroughly.  When the professor who taught Computer introduction found this out, she asked if I would sit in the computer lab.  All I had to do was help students turn on the computers and not break anything when the computers failed to do what they were told.  And for the timid soul, I taught them to “push the button — it won’t blow up.”

While in the computer lab I also to helped students sign on to various library databases.  To find information on the web required reference books and perseverance.  Search engines were pretty well non-existant (the term “googled” was a non-term, waiting to be born!!). 

When it came to surfing the web, most students were just beginners looking for water — they couldn’t even fathom there were waves big enough to ride!

At the time, I took the view that this “net” thing was fun, but not a necessity.  20 years later I have a very different POV (point of view)!

Now, I use the net to prepare sermons, find phone numbers, check on travel and accommodation, find appliance manuals, read/hear the news, find jokes and illustrations!  The other day I asked my wife for the translation of a latin phrase.  Having studied Latin in high school she easily translated most  of the phrase.  But when part of the phrase seemed to be a mystery, she headed right to Google instead of to a Latin dictionary.

So, tonight after more meetings, I’ll head home.  Check on some blogs.  See about some news.  And maybe just pick a word out of the air and see what Google turns up!