Sunday, August 17, 2008

Dear God,

A day with you. A day to worship and praise and adore you. A day to sing with my whole voice. A day to see you. A day to love and smile and hug and see you living among your people.

Two worship services. Two churches, Episcopal and United Methodist. Two towns, Kennebunkport and Cape Porpoise. Two messages. Two prayers. Two hymn sings. Two doses of sacred love and faith.

One worship at the edge of the ocean, watching the sea gulls in flight, boats gliding slowly upon the serene water. Holy Communion offered, the holy elements placed on a simple, beautiful marble altar, the silver etched cup and plate, the bread and wine, the people standing with hands out held, receiving the bread placed in our hand, drinking from the cup, then stepping around and back into our seats, then just watching hungry people come, children being blessed by the priest. Singing Let There Be Peace...and let it begin with me.

Then driving up the coast to the tiny town of Cape Porpoise, hearing the choir rehearse yards away. Melodious sounds rising up to meet you. The welcome of greeters, literally happy people, glad to see every person walking through the entry way. Then singing twenty minutes before the service even begins, favorite hymns, one after the other. Ending with Joy to the World. What a beautiful array of smiling people, greeting one another, happy to be in church with the Body of Christ.

My, oh my, how I experienced you this morning. How beautiful was my heart toward you. How I felt your warm presence. How I loved sharing the experience with retreatants, friends in your spirit.

Two Sundays in a row I have worshipped with you in two different communities of faith. One whose service as a summer chapel will end in September, the other that will continue all year long. Once again I saw the extra seat in the choir loft, mine, I figured late next summer. What joy filled my heart as I considered inwardly my relationship to you. What grace to offer my voice of praise, of thanksgiving before the service and during it, to give you my whole heart once again.

Gratitude,
a heart full
of gratitude,
I place
at your feet.
Thanksgiving,
a heart
so grateful
to be alive,
to make known
my devotion.
How alive
is your church,
a people,
the hands and heart,
the voice,
the feet,
the Body of Christ,
in our midst.
Happy people,
made happy
by the Master.
Singing,
praying,
loving,
smiling,
hugging,
offering peace,
listening,
hoping,
giving,
filling up
the empty spaces,
with you,
with you,
with you.

A grateful heart, Andrea