The word "simple" kept popping into my head on Sunday. It felt like a simple day. Realizing that even though I use the word often, I have probably never actually looked up the definition. Yes, Sunday was a simple day. Simple in the notion of "uncomplicated; not complex; easy to understand; without additions; without guile or deceit; without ostentation, natural."
Sunday was a busy, but not hectic day. It began when I met to pray with a young woman who has suffered two miscarriages. She desperately wants a baby. She is happily married. Her husband embraces the idea of becoming a father. She takes care of her physical health. They are financially stable, and can care for a child. She is brokenhearted over the losses she has experienced. She is dreading Mother's Day. Had life gone as expected, she would be celebrated as a mother on that day. So we prayed a simple prayer. We lamented her loss. We told God of our lack of understanding. We expressed gratitude for the avenue of prayer. We recognized our need to not stand on our own understanding but in all our ways to acknowledge Him. Some tears were shed. Sitting in that quiet room, holding hands and praying were simple acts of faith and community.
Our service was conducted by the youth group. I have not enough words to express what a beautiful job they did. They learned how many people it takes to conduct a worship service. They filled communion trays, worked in the sound booth, made announcements, served communion, presided over the table, prayed, led a beautiful time of worship in song, conducted the ministry moment, helped with the elder close, and delivered a powerful message. It was a beautifully blessed day. Their message was simple, and it was all the more powerful because of its simplicity. Two words sum it up: love and serve. That is not complicated. There is not really anything to add. No ostentation here. Love and serve. Find out what your gifts are, and use them to serve others with the intent of bringing glory to God. To live one's life in love and service is truly to "be Jesus" in this place. It is a simple, yet deep concept. They get it.
We did have one moment of complication. For those who do not know me well, my church organization (for lack of a better term ~ I was raised to never say we were a "denomination." Holy cow, why was that so important?) is pretty conservative. We have traditionally had a BIG problem with women being "heard" during our "corporate worship." Fortunately, for the most part, we have not tainted the youth with our seemingly important distinctions. Now, let me say, I am most grateful to have been raised in a church that tries to follow the Scriptures. I am so thankful for that. But, we do tend to lean a little heavily on some more than others. We really like the passage that tells women to be silent in the church, but we are a little less able to embrace the scripture that declares that we are one in Christ, neither male nor female. One of the teenage girls was going to pray over our offering, but was told that might not be appropriate. She very graciously stated that she had been told that praying in worship was not a "girl's role, " and that she would use her gifts in another way. Precious girl. Perhaps, the older generation needs to revisit. Change is slow. That is okay. Concerns about women leading prayers and serving communion will one day fall in that head-scratching confusion of churches splitting up over one cup or two, kitchens in the church building, should we or shouldn't we help the orphans and widows etc... We can still live Kingdom life in the midst of the debates if we love and serve one another. Simple.
My best friend, Nancy, has a son who is getting married soon. I had a shower for his fiancee Sunday. When I heard that Jamie was getting married, it was a simple fact that I would give a shower. It could have been no other way. The party was simple. I visited with old friends, and with those who became known to me for the first time. Everyone was lovely. We did not play games. Remember when we used to have to dress people up in toilet paper wedding gowns? Oh, I am so glad that is no longer in vogue. I did not like it then when 1 roll of toilet paper would have been sufficient to make a ball gown that fit me. Now, I would need 3 rolls just to make a simple sheath! Yeah, we left that off. But it was a simple time, of honoring the future daughter-in-law of a lifelong friend. There were no complications of trying to impress. Yes, I wanted the food to be lovely. Yes, I wanted fresh flowers. Yes, I wanted my house to be clean and look presentable, but I hope no one sensed any ostentation. I hope it was a simple, natural time together.
After the shower ended, Mr. Lincoln and I returned to church for an old fashioned hymn sing. Oh, my stars, it was so wonderful. Old hymns. Explanations concerning who wrote the hymns and why. I belted out songs I have not heard in years. The theology in many of them is somewhat questionable, but the spirit behind the singing was unmistakable. There were young people there who had never heard many of the songs. They seemed somewhat puzzled, and somewhat entertained by the older members who were loving it. There was a simple recognition of one of our members who had a stroke many years ago. He really can no longer carry on a conversation, but somewhere in the recesses of his brain are the words and music to those old songs, and he simply and joyfully sang.
Sunday evening was really designed as a farewell to our music minister. Mr. Lincoln did the blessing over the Sanderson family. His words were heartfelt and simple. One friend said that she felt his words were divinely inspired. I do not know. I do know this. I am going to miss this man. I have found him to be a man of great love and service. I will be forever grateful that he, his family, and I spent a bit of time together in this time and this place trying to love and serve our church family. He will always be family to me...plain and simple.
So Sunday was a simple day. Filled with simple blessings. I know that faith and church are not simple for many people. There is so much junk mixed up in it all that the simplicity has been lost for many. It makes me sad. A wise friend said to me last night as we discussed family and church and life in general, "All I can do is stay in prayer and live my faith in front of them." Simple. Hard, but simple.
So, for today, I wish you simple faith, simple love, simple service, and I wish you
blessings
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