January 24^th, 2010, was a tremendous day in the life of our church family.  As we celebrated our 20^th year of ministry, the Furrows were gracious in allowing us to use the Winery, our future “North Campus” for our Celebration Sunday.  As this wonderful day unfolded, there were a number of things I observed  which warmed my heart, that I ‘d like to share with you….

There was a heart of Service.  Where to begin, there were so many instances….

—the “Tag Team” of Dave and Dave, standing out in the rain and muck directing traffic all morning as we attempted to park nearly 120 vehicles in the frost-softened parking lot.  With smiles on their faces.

—Linda and her crew of volunteers putting together yet another great meal for us.  Imagine what they will be able to do with an actual kitchen?

__Annie Furrow and her daughter and daughter-in-law cutting scrumptious desserts and displaying a table of sweets for all to enjoy.

—the 30-40 folks who showed up both on Saturday, and then again on Sunday afternoon, helping us move over 500 chairs, dozens of tables, the sound system, and more.  And the decorators, who turned an empty steel building into a warm, inviting place.   A herculean effort made so easy by so many.

—The Furrow family, who allowed us the use of the building, even before we have purchased it.  They cleaned it in anticipation of our celebration, too.

—Alicia, and her team, bringing all the details together so beautifully.

There was a heart of Ministry:

—Annie Fehr leading yet another nursery team, allowing us to worship more effectively.

—Ron and those who see the joy and priority of ministering to our children in Children’s Church.

—Ardyth and the worship teams.  With the brass, flute, keyboard, and voices joining together to praise our Father in a room that allows that praise to reverberate throughout the building.

There was a heart of Encouragement:

From the flowers sent by our home church, East White Oak, to our greeters and ushers, to our irreverent (but hilarious) greeting from the former Genesius Players out in California, to the spontaneous responses of joy from so many throughout the day, it was a day of remarkable blessing and encouragement, as we more clearly see what our Father is doing in our midst.

There was much more, and many more who I have not named, but who served us and the Lord with joy and humility this past Sunday, who in their own ways gave their offerings of praise to our Father, who knows and remembers.  But there was one more thing, that to me, stood out most of all.

There was a heart of Prayer.

I got out to the north campus several hours before the service, but not before Carol, who was there to help coordinate our morning Prayer Walk around the building, one hour before the service.  A Prayer Walk is just what the name implies;  to walk from location to location, praying about specific people/things related to that location.  I did this early on, by myself, in anticipation of all the details I would need to tend to as the morning moved on.  It was great to focus my heart and mind on each of the 8 prayer station topics and locations so early on our Celebration Sunday.

But what moved me to such gratitude and joy was to see how, at 9:30 am, an hour before the service, our church family began to come, specifically, to pray.  Some moved from location to location, praying by themselves.  Some prayed as a family.  Some joined with others, in groups of 8-10, moving throughout the facility, interceding for the ministries of CBF, and its outreach.  They were everywhere!  In the midst of all the final preparation, sound checks, greeting our guests and visitors, a significant portion of the CBF church family was walking from area to area, in prayer. 

This is what it is all about.  It isn’t about a building;  it is about ministry, of being the hands and feet and heart of our Savior.  That is what I saw the most of on Sunday, and it warmed my heart, and lifted my spirit.

Onward, ‘til upward~!