Low Sunday becomes High Sunday

I've never liked the name given to the Sunday after Easter, though I get where the name came from.  True to form, our Sunday attendance for the Eucharist was down - significantly from Easter and from our ASA.  I must have been heard saying more than a few times throughout the day, "If people really got Easter, wouldn't they be in church today too?"

Besides being the Sunday after Easter, it was also the beginning of a week long celebration in Meigs County for National Day of Prayer (NDP).  We gathered in front of the county courthouse for the sounding of the shofar, 10 minutes of prayer and the singing of "Amazing Grace."

Talking with Brenda, the minister with primary responsibility for organizing NDP, she said, "My heart is breaking.  Attendance has never been this low for this event."  FYI, it was a beautiful day so low attendance wasn't because of the weather unless people had decided they had better things to do.

So we talked, both of our hearts breaking for what appeared to be a lack of zeal on the part of God's children on this important day of praise and worship.

Our hearts were also breaking because of my pending departure from Pomeroy.  We have enjoyed working in God's vineyard together and we will miss each other when I move.  She then said, "Pete (her husband) and I have decided that we will move to whatever place you move to and start a church next to yours."  She didn't say this to indicate that she would be opening a competing church, but to say we would love to continue to do ministry with you.  The sentiment of her statement was true, even though I don't expect them to move!

Then the bombshell, the breaking forth of God's amazing grace.  Her church has a holy habit of contributing to mission beyond the local community.  She told me that they were going to consider me their extended mission and that from the time my time at Grace is complete to the time I accept my next call, their church will send me $100/month!  My protest was quickly silenced and the miracle of God's blessing washed over me as tears formed in my eyes.  Then I had an equally profound realization - my ministry in this place has made an impact!  During my time between calls, I will continue to be about ministry and I will hold Restoration Fellowship in my prayers for supporting me in that work.

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O Lord, lead me and the church I shall next serve in a holy walk of search and discernment until our paths shall cross and we are overcome with the joint realization that we have just been overcome with your goodness and mercy towards us!