April 26, 2024
Hello, Village Church family, and a good Friday to you. I hope you are doing well on this day, and if you are finding challenges in your life, I hope you are knowledgeable of this truth: that you are not alone, that the Holy Spirit is present with you and for you, and that there's a whole bunch of us who are walking with you on these times and these journeys.
Hey, so, we're in a sermon series talking about the Ways We Worship and looking at the different components of the worship service. And this Sunday we're looking at Scripture and Proclamation. I've had the great privilege of preaching in pulpits all across the nation and even around the world, to my astonishment, and we'll talk about what it means when we have the reading of scripture and the sermon.
There was one moment when I was preaching at the First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia, historic, beautiful building there in the heart of Charleston, not too far away from the state capitol building.
I recall I got up to preach after the reading of scripture, and I started preaching, just a few moments in, and there was a gentleman down, sort of front, in the front pew, nearly, and he was a younger man, I think in his like late forties, early fifties, sitting by himself. And oh, good grief, as soon as I started going, he was out. I mean out. He was just like--[snoring] and I thought, okay, yeah, you're tired. Some people doze off; I get that. And most people wake up eventually; he did not wake up during the entire sermon. I sort of took it as a challenge. I started to get a little louder, perhaps a little more emphatic, trying to wake him up, but nothing happened.
And so I was kind of annoyed--there's an ego here, obviously--and I was like, good grief, really. And so then, after worship, people are shaking my hand as they leave the sanctuary, and here he comes. And I thought, yeah, fine. And he to my surprise, said, "Good sermon." I'm thinking, yeah, how would you know? You were asleep the entire time. And then he quoted back to me three different things that I said from that sermon. I have no idea how he did that.
Found out later from the senior pastor when I was having lunch with him and with his family, that that happens every Sunday. This guy looks like he's out, but the pastor said, nope. He does the same thing to him every Sunday. I thought, yeah, Nishioka, you have no idea what's going on. You think you know, but you really don't.
So we'll talk about that. We'll talk about what happens in worship with the sermon and the reading of scripture. Whether you join us online or in person, I look forward to seeing you. And if you fall asleep, if you go out, I will not judge you as being a lesser person in the grace of God, because all of us are needing God's grace. It'll be just fine.
Friends, I look forward to seeing you. Lord be with you. Take care,
Rodger
Hello, Village Church family, and a good Friday to you. I hope you are doing well on this day, and if you are finding challenges in your life, I hope you are knowledgeable of this truth: that you are not alone, that the Holy Spirit is present with you and for you, and that there's a whole bunch of us who are walking with you on these times and these journeys.
Hey, so, we're in a sermon series talking about the Ways We Worship and looking at the different components of the worship service. And this Sunday we're looking at Scripture and Proclamation. I've had the great privilege of preaching in pulpits all across the nation and even around the world, to my astonishment, and we'll talk about what it means when we have the reading of scripture and the sermon.
There was one moment when I was preaching at the First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia, historic, beautiful building there in the heart of Charleston, not too far away from the state capitol building.
I recall I got up to preach after the reading of scripture, and I started preaching, just a few moments in, and there was a gentleman down, sort of front, in the front pew, nearly, and he was a younger man, I think in his like late forties, early fifties, sitting by himself. And oh, good grief, as soon as I started going, he was out. I mean out. He was just like--[snoring] and I thought, okay, yeah, you're tired. Some people doze off; I get that. And most people wake up eventually; he did not wake up during the entire sermon. I sort of took it as a challenge. I started to get a little louder, perhaps a little more emphatic, trying to wake him up, but nothing happened.
And so I was kind of annoyed--there's an ego here, obviously--and I was like, good grief, really. And so then, after worship, people are shaking my hand as they leave the sanctuary, and here he comes. And I thought, yeah, fine. And he to my surprise, said, "Good sermon." I'm thinking, yeah, how would you know? You were asleep the entire time. And then he quoted back to me three different things that I said from that sermon. I have no idea how he did that.
Found out later from the senior pastor when I was having lunch with him and with his family, that that happens every Sunday. This guy looks like he's out, but the pastor said, nope. He does the same thing to him every Sunday. I thought, yeah, Nishioka, you have no idea what's going on. You think you know, but you really don't.
So we'll talk about that. We'll talk about what happens in worship with the sermon and the reading of scripture. Whether you join us online or in person, I look forward to seeing you. And if you fall asleep, if you go out, I will not judge you as being a lesser person in the grace of God, because all of us are needing God's grace. It'll be just fine.
Friends, I look forward to seeing you. Lord be with you. Take care,
Rodger
We invite you to worship with us
Sundays at 9 & 11 a.m. (traditional worship) and 5 p.m. (The Gathering, alternative worship) at our Mission Campus
and 9:30 a.m. (traditional worship) at our Antioch Campus. If you can’t make it in person, you can livestream our services online.
and 9:30 a.m. (traditional worship) at our Antioch Campus. If you can’t make it in person, you can livestream our services online.