9:00 am on Sunday morning. The service begins and we're off... 20 minutes later, I'm standing in front of a group of people who don't know me from Adam, talking with them about the importance of community in serving God. It goes well, but a minute longer than planned. Not bad, I thought, as I walked off the back of the stage.
Bob is waiting for me as I run through the 'green room' and out the back door. "We should be fine." I text the service director in Barrington, letting her know we're on the way. While, in Barrington, the music begins and the people gather to worship God.
25 minutes later, Bob pulls the car in the front of the church, I jump out, grab the mic pack that is handed to me by someone I've never met and walk into a room I've never seen before. The video winds down as I stand on stage, and I pick up where it leaves off, continuing the same message for this new group of people who, again, doesn't know me.
As that message winds down, I walk off the stage, grab the hand of my friend, Steve, only to keep on walking, handing the mic pack back to the nice lady in the lobby, jump in the car, and hold on as Bob drives toward Grayslake again.
I have to say, Bob pulls this stellar move on a lane-merge that puts us ahead of about 6 other cars. Without that move, I would have been late to...
...the video concludes as I walk onto the stage as if I had been there all morning and just waiting for this moment.
God is good. These people didn't know me from anyone. But God goes before.
That's a snapshot of the teaching adventure on the second weekend at The Chapel. It was fun! It was exciting. It was incredible to get a feel for God's hand at work in different locations of the same church. I loved it! And I can't wait to do it again...
...and I'll get my chance in a couple weeks. Thanks, God...
Peace on the Journey,
M@
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
New things...
What a weekend! It was a weekends of firsts...
- It was the first weekend that I served as the official Campus Pastor for The Chapel, Hawthorn Hills. Prior to this, I was the Associate Campus Pastor. Through a two-month process of testing the waters, connecting with core leaders, and serving alongside Scott (who was Campus Pastor as well as Co-Senior Pastor of The Chapel), God has affirmed so many of the decisions that bring us to this point. I couldn't be more excited and hopeful about my role in God's mission these days.
- It was the first time that I taught on a weekend for The Chapel. There is a teaching team that rotates through most of the campuses. My hiring as Campus Pastor did not include being a part of that teaching team. So when Jeff (the other Co-Senior Pastor of The Chapel), asked me to do the teaching for this message in the current series, I was shocked. This past weekend, I did all three services at my campus. Next weekend, I do the same message at all the other campuses - 4 live and 1 recorded on dvd. I really enjoyed doing it this past weekend. And if that's the best way for me to serve God, then I'd be pleased to do it again. We'll see how it goes. The real "test" will be this weekend - I'll be teaching for people who don't know me from Adam...other than Adam would look a little older than I do...
- It was my first Major League Soccer game. Jim and Jenny took Heidi and I to see the Chicago Fire, the pro team in the area. What a great time! We enjoyed the company of "old friends" (we met them at Northwest) and I learned a ton about a game that I was largely unfamiliar with. Jim is a great fan and understands the strategy - and a good teacher. I'm not sure I "fell in love" with soccer, but I really dig it and hope to watch it some more. In July, a soccer legend from the Mexico team is joining The Fire...should be fun to watch a man that plays on such a huge world stage.
And after such a full weekend, we had a great F5 family day. It started with getting Izak to the doctor first thing in the morning. We seem to start our Mondays there lately. Sinus infection for the big guy. He's already feeling better.
Busy week ahead (what's new?). Big things going on for the Church these days. And it's a gift and honor for me to be a part of it.
Away we go!
M@
- It was the first weekend that I served as the official Campus Pastor for The Chapel, Hawthorn Hills. Prior to this, I was the Associate Campus Pastor. Through a two-month process of testing the waters, connecting with core leaders, and serving alongside Scott (who was Campus Pastor as well as Co-Senior Pastor of The Chapel), God has affirmed so many of the decisions that bring us to this point. I couldn't be more excited and hopeful about my role in God's mission these days.
- It was the first time that I taught on a weekend for The Chapel. There is a teaching team that rotates through most of the campuses. My hiring as Campus Pastor did not include being a part of that teaching team. So when Jeff (the other Co-Senior Pastor of The Chapel), asked me to do the teaching for this message in the current series, I was shocked. This past weekend, I did all three services at my campus. Next weekend, I do the same message at all the other campuses - 4 live and 1 recorded on dvd. I really enjoyed doing it this past weekend. And if that's the best way for me to serve God, then I'd be pleased to do it again. We'll see how it goes. The real "test" will be this weekend - I'll be teaching for people who don't know me from Adam...other than Adam would look a little older than I do...
- It was my first Major League Soccer game. Jim and Jenny took Heidi and I to see the Chicago Fire, the pro team in the area. What a great time! We enjoyed the company of "old friends" (we met them at Northwest) and I learned a ton about a game that I was largely unfamiliar with. Jim is a great fan and understands the strategy - and a good teacher. I'm not sure I "fell in love" with soccer, but I really dig it and hope to watch it some more. In July, a soccer legend from the Mexico team is joining The Fire...should be fun to watch a man that plays on such a huge world stage.
And after such a full weekend, we had a great F5 family day. It started with getting Izak to the doctor first thing in the morning. We seem to start our Mondays there lately. Sinus infection for the big guy. He's already feeling better.
Busy week ahead (what's new?). Big things going on for the Church these days. And it's a gift and honor for me to be a part of it.
Away we go!
M@
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