A humble woman prays

Do you ever have nights that you wake up and cannot go back to sleep? Well, I did this morning. 3:30am and could not stop thinking.

Next Sunday’s Service- 1st Sunday of Advent- Candle of Hope- Purple candle- Who is lighting the Candle of Hope? Who is the Lay Reader? Who are the Greeters? Who is bringing snacks for fellowship after service? Is everything and everyone in place for the “Advent Candle Workshop? Which scripture will our Head Minister focus on? Is the Order of Service/Order of Worship /Bulletin created? printed? folded? ready? inserts? So, the following has been selected to create the one-hour service: The hymns, The Call to Worship, The Call to Confession, Prayer of Confession, Assurance of Pardon, Prayer of Illumination, Scripture, Children’s Church or Children’s Sunday School Class- teachers ready? Material and books provided, People’s Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer, Birthdays and Anniversaries to Celebrate, Announcements, Offering & Dedication, Doxology, and the Benediction.

All of these are just some of the tasks to get ready for Sunday’s one hour of service. Let’s not forget that the Preacher has to write the sermon and the Worship Committee has been planning this for months. Our Pastor mentioned that the one hour of service takes 30-40 hours of work. I believe it and then some!

That doesn’t even count planning, keeping up with all of the Advent Activities. The beautiful Cantata, The Children’s Christmas Pageant, The Christmas Cookie Workshop, The Cookies and Carols party, 2 services for Christmas Eve this year, The Church Christmas Cards- created, printed, addressed and mailed. Pastoral Care, Did everyone get theirs? What am I forgetting???

No wonder the Pastors, the Church Office Admin and all of the many, many wonderful volunteers and committees are exhausted!

The Celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior is worth all of our time, energy and materials. PRAISE GOD!

What are you doing to prepare for Advent? What did we forget?

Our Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending your perfect son to walk on the earth to teach, preach, guide, love and save us! We will celebrate the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with everything we have. Thank you! We love you! Amen