Monday Re-Cap

by | Dec 28, 2015 | Life Between Sundays

CLC STILL_SMALL_VOICE7

The winter winds remind me that it is no longer Fall.  Like it or not snow is on the way.  The weather people suggest another storm tomorrow, this one more significant than what was supposed to have taken place yesterday.  We’ll see.

I enjoy my time on Sunday as I never have before.  Yesterday held two surprises for me.  One was that Eric was back for the Sunday School class.  I always enjoy this time.  I believe that the conversations that have taken place in this group have largely influenced the church as we experience it.  Consequently, I am immensely grateful.  You’d have to journey around the church landscape a bit to fully appreciate the things that I love about our spiritual family.  When I express my appreciation for our church, I am not wasting words or flattering needlessly.  CLC has been a fresh breath of hope for Elaine and I.  More than just hope but the opportunity to observe the birth of something truly new and geared to the realities of our changing world.

The other surprise was that Jon was back.  I was expecting to have to lead worship yesterday.  I enjoy this but it takes a toll on my voice, leaving me a bit croaky by the time that I have to preach.

This week, I am taking some time off.  We have family yet to visit for the holiday and I am looking forward to seeing the grandkids.  I am available if there is a need.  Please feel free to call me at 222-0410.  I won’t be keeping office hours.

As the New Year approaches, I continue to believe for God’s great involvement in my life and our church family.  Whatever He does, big or little, is truly magnificent.  As I think of the Isaiah scripture that we shared yesterday, I am reminded that He is a God of the “new“.  He doesn’t recycle … doesn’t do encore performances.  Today is a new day.  We are approaching a New Year and He has plans.  Our greatest delight and joy will be to be involved in what He is doing.  We’ll discover that one day at a time.  Occasionally the opportunities will shout at us.  Other times we’ll hear a small whisper.

Let’s tune in to what He is saying.

I truly love you all …

Involvement … Ushers

by | Dec 15, 2015 | Get Involved, Life Between Sundays, Weekly Bulletin

clc Get-Involved

Many years ago, when church was more formal, “ushers” would guide people to a pew and seat them there. Then later in the service, they would take up the offering. Now, their only function is to take up the offering, but they are still called “ushers”.

When the offering is announced, two ushers come forward, each stands in front of the each collection plate, and awaits the prayer over the offering. Then they each go down their side of the church to ensure that anyone who has an offering to give has an opportunity to put it in the plate. And then they each come back up the middle of the church and return the plates with offering in them to the front of the church.

Not a difficult job at all; mainly an usher needs to be pleasant and not make someone feel uncomfortable if they are not putting anything in the plate. Some people give their tithes and offerings through “automatic deposit”, straight from their bank account to the church bank account. Others write one cheque a month for their tithe to the church; others simply don’t have money to give.

For some reason (tradition perhaps), people seem to think that only men can take up the offering. This is really quite a ridiculous notion, but I am sure many women would feel uncomfortable taking up the offering since the tradition has been around so long. Any woman who would like to lend a hand at taking up offering would be very welcome to.

This role can also be performed by boys and girls, as long as they are mature enough to follow the directions with a pleasant manner.

We have a few men who take up offering regularly, and in the Newsletter, an attempt is made to schedule the “ushers”. However, with people coming and going, it is rare that the ushers listed are actually the ones taking up the offering.

Perley usually looks after making sure two people will take up the offering, so if you (men, women, boys and girls) would be willing to do this from time to time, let Perley know, and he will have a list to draw from each Sunday, depending on who is here and available.

It would be nice to have men and women, boys and girls, all feeling very comfortable working together to do the various things that help to make a Sunday morning a wonderful experience for all of us.

— Eric Allaby