Those of you who missed worship today missed a real treat.

Just before the sermon, I challenged the congregation to move from their scattered seats to the front of the church, over in front of the pulpit.

And they did it.

I was very impressed at the risk they took. Its not easy to move out of a comfortable, habit-drenched seat. But they did it.

The sermon, Many Gifts, One Spirit borrowed its title from an Annual Conference theme from not too long ago. The passage from the lectionary was from Paul’s first set of letters to the Corinthians (12:1-11). Noting that we all have a place in the line, a seat at the table, I pointed out that we are so much stronger when we are together.

We’re a better congregation. Like coals in a fire maintain their heat when left in the fire, we maintain that strange warmness of our hearts when we are functioning as a group, a team. And like those same coals, we lose our heat and our glow when we wander off on our own.

Plus we sing better (its easier to hear and harmonize).

It was really, really nice. See you next Sunday. We’ll be over on the left side. Join us, won’t you?