Note: In this post there are two links - one, to one of our worship service videos on Facebook, and the other, to a video on YouTube. You have to log on to Facebook to watch the video there; you don't have to log on to YouTube to watch that video.
If you've looked at the worship printouts recently you've seen that we've included the above graphic of our "Measures" that says "A dedicated disciple of Jesus (someone who is learning to imitate Christ) goes low (in humility), lives out (in kindness), and lifts up (with joy)." We developed this a couple of years ago with the help of Pastor Jacob Hoyer, along with other statements about God's Vision and our Mission (you can find all the statements and graphics HERE>>).
Now it's a couple of years later, and we're two weeks into the SERVING CHALLENGE at Christ the King. So far we have talked about ATTITUDE and AVAILABILITY. In the worship printouts for the Sundays in March you should also be able to see the one below, about the Values we have as a congregation (Caring, Acceptance, Family, and Joy). I've put them in the printout because the work we've been doing this year with the Forgiving Challenge and now the Serving Challenge has pointed naturally to these Values we share with one another.
If you were in either one of our worship services on Sunday, February 25, or watched the videos on Facebook or on YouTube (links in the next section), you might have had the joy of witnessing with me two extraordinary, spontaneous demonstrations of these values and serving.
In fact, I shared these videos with the team at Red Letter Challenge in the following email (slightly edited here) on Monday, February 26:
"Hi, Red Letter team! God is doing some great and tender things here at Christ the King.
So we're into the "Serving Challenge" and the focus in yesterday's worship was "Availability." At the end of our early service, instead of our Elder coming up to put the altar candles out, two of the young girls came up instead - the one was about 12 years old, and her little sister is about 3 (and seems to take her behavioral cues from Tigger). No worries, though - they did great! Here's the Facebook link (they come up at about 58:00 - but you might want to mute it)
https://fb.watch/qsvnaVed18/
Later, at the end of our later service, two guys came up to put the candles out (here's the link; again, you might want to mute it first! https://www.youtube.com/live/7l9yj0caHcE?feature=shared&t=3344.) In the video, the big guy with the brown shirt is Duane, who's one of our regular ushers and has a heart as big as all outdoors. The guy in the blue hoodie is Brett. He's got some significant special needs, and is sharing a house with our music guy, Patrick, who also has special needs and lives in an electric wheelchair. This is only the second time Brett has come with Patrick to one of our worship services, but Duane had this notion to lead Brett by the hand to the altar and help him hold the candlelighter to put the candles out - you can see that they did great, too! And, Brett got quite a few thank-yous and fist bumps from the folks afterward, too (so did Duane).
I don't really think these have anything much to do with me preaching about "Availability" yesterday - both of them are just kind of how we roll at Christ the King. But don't you love it when a plan comes together?
God bless us everyone!
Pastor Chris Cahill
"Hi, Red Letter team! God is doing some great and tender things here at Christ the King.
So we're into the "Serving Challenge" and the focus in yesterday's worship was "Availability." At the end of our early service, instead of our Elder coming up to put the altar candles out, two of the young girls came up instead - the one was about 12 years old, and her little sister is about 3 (and seems to take her behavioral cues from Tigger). No worries, though - they did great! Here's the Facebook link (they come up at about 58:00 - but you might want to mute it)
https://fb.watch/qsvnaVed18/
Later, at the end of our later service, two guys came up to put the candles out (here's the link; again, you might want to mute it first! https://www.youtube.com/live/7l9yj0caHcE?feature=shared&t=3344.) In the video, the big guy with the brown shirt is Duane, who's one of our regular ushers and has a heart as big as all outdoors. The guy in the blue hoodie is Brett. He's got some significant special needs, and is sharing a house with our music guy, Patrick, who also has special needs and lives in an electric wheelchair. This is only the second time Brett has come with Patrick to one of our worship services, but Duane had this notion to lead Brett by the hand to the altar and help him hold the candlelighter to put the candles out - you can see that they did great, too! And, Brett got quite a few thank-yous and fist bumps from the folks afterward, too (so did Duane).
I don't really think these have anything much to do with me preaching about "Availability" yesterday - both of them are just kind of how we roll at Christ the King. But don't you love it when a plan comes together?
God bless us everyone!
Pastor Chris Cahill
And here's the email I got back from the Red Letter Challenge team:
Wow Pastor Chris! That was truly heartwarming to see! It's incredible to witness how God is moving and working through your community at Christ the King. Thank you for sharing those beautiful moments with us.
Watching those young girls and then Duane and Brett stepping up to put out the candles truly encapsulates the spirit of availability and service. It's evident that everyone at Christ the King is wholeheartedly embracing the call to serve and support one another, regardless of age or ability. Seeing Brett receiving such warm appreciation from the congregation is touching and speaks volumes about the inclusive and loving environment you all have cultivated.
You're right, it's not just about preaching a message on availability; it's about living it out in our everyday actions, just like what we witnessed in those moments. It's moments like these that remind us of the beauty and power of community and the incredible things that can happen when we come together with open hearts and willing hands.
Thank you again for sharing this with us, Pastor Chris. We're truly inspired and encouraged by what's happening at Christ the King.
Blessings
PS Pastor Zach Zehnder added "Wow, that is beautiful (and tender) and amazing! Thanks CC for sending this over…love the SCARS word up there too. I’m blessed by this this morning!!"
Wow Pastor Chris! That was truly heartwarming to see! It's incredible to witness how God is moving and working through your community at Christ the King. Thank you for sharing those beautiful moments with us.
Watching those young girls and then Duane and Brett stepping up to put out the candles truly encapsulates the spirit of availability and service. It's evident that everyone at Christ the King is wholeheartedly embracing the call to serve and support one another, regardless of age or ability. Seeing Brett receiving such warm appreciation from the congregation is touching and speaks volumes about the inclusive and loving environment you all have cultivated.
You're right, it's not just about preaching a message on availability; it's about living it out in our everyday actions, just like what we witnessed in those moments. It's moments like these that remind us of the beauty and power of community and the incredible things that can happen when we come together with open hearts and willing hands.
Thank you again for sharing this with us, Pastor Chris. We're truly inspired and encouraged by what's happening at Christ the King.
Blessings
PS Pastor Zach Zehnder added "Wow, that is beautiful (and tender) and amazing! Thanks CC for sending this over…love the SCARS word up there too. I’m blessed by this this morning!!"