revbry's Journal

Monday 12:52 pm

WOW!! Sunday was so incredible on so many different levels I'm not even sure where to begin! First of all, because of the size of my video file, I was unable to post it directly on DS. I found an alternate site and the address is on my profile. I hope to be able to include an entire service in the near future.

The congregation seemed very interested in the fact that we can share our church and our ministry with people all over the world. My congregation is very good at wanting to go beyond the walls of our church and get involved in community and other missions.

I want to encourage all of my DS friends to visit our church website, sign the guestbook, look at the pictures, and submit prayer requests for myself and my congregation to pray over. that web address is: www.freewebs.com/revbry

I have already received some wonderful feedback from the sermon text that I posted yesterday. I want to thank all of you for that, it has meant a great deal to me.

Ok, here the way Sunday unfolded:

When we arrived they were just getting out of Sunday school and a woman who had visited our church for the first time a few weeks ago had a surprise for both Lisa and I. When she last visited, I had made a joke about the congregation not giving me a fall themed tie that they said they would give me a year ago. After that service this woman (named Evelyn) said she would make me a tie. But then she didn't return for 2 services and I forgot about it. She returned yesterday and not only had she made me 1 tie, she made me 3. One for fall, one for winter and 1 for christmas. I'll take a photo and post it on here later. They are beautiful! She also made lisa a bag to carry her lunch in and also gave us a 'potato bag' which neither Lisa or I had ever heard of or seen. Apparently it makes potatoes that you put in the microwave come out fluffier. We are anxious to try it. She also said she enjoyed the last service so much she wants to join our church.

Then, before church started I saw 2 youth sitting in the church pews and both looked bored out of their minds, so I went to the first one and she said she was tired because she was up playing her keyboard all night and so I asked her if she would like to play for one of our advent services and she said yes. I then went to the other young lady who I found out likes to sing and asked if she would like to perform a song and she said yes. Both then asked if they could bring a friend to perform with and I of course said yes! 4 youth, performing Christmas music in our church, what a treat!!

I then explained about the camera and the internet and then started the service. I thought you might like to see our bulletin from yesterday:

November 11, 2007  Veterans Day

Gathering

Prelude                       

Announcements

Young Folks Message

**Childrens Church offered to all who want to participate

*Call to Worship:

Pastor: Holy One, who may abide in your tent and dwell on your hill?

People: Those who do what is right and speak the truth from their heart

Pastor: Holy one, who may abide in your tent and dwell on your hill?

People: Those who do not slander with your tongue and do no evil to their friends

Pastor: Holy One, who may abide in your tent and dwell on your hill?

People: Those who do not take advantage of the innocent, those who stand by their word even when it is not to their advantage

  *Gloria Patri

*Hymn  #470 Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus

 Opening Prayer (unison)

Eternal God, open us to you. Open us to the words of prophets, ancient and modern, who sound your call to do justice. Open us to the presence of your spirit, who empowers us to answer that call in words and deeds of compassion and courage. Open us to the example of Jesus, whose ministry brought healing and hope and truth to the poor and to the oppressed of His age and every age, Amen.

Responsive reading #589  Christian Unity

Remembering Our Veterans

Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer

Hymn # 474 Onward Christian Soldiers

 Sermon: Veterans Day

Scripture: Romans 13:7

Apostle’s Creed (An Affirmation)

 Offering

*Doxology

*Closing Hymn  #448 Open My Eyes, That I May See (vs1,3)

*Benediction

 **Announcements**

Today’s sermon is the first of hopefully many that I will post on the internet to reach out worldwide to those who do not attend church or who don’t even know what Christianity is.

 December 9, 2007 Smokey Wilson will be here and following the worship service Lisa and I invite you to our 3rd annual Christmas open house in the fellowship hall. We’ll have food, gifts for all, and back by popular demand: Synonymn Carols

If anyone who lives in Virginia or nearby and wants to join us for worship, you are more than welcome. We have full worship services the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, except for December where we will meet all 4 Sundays. We would love to meet our DS friends in person and enjoy a day of fellowship together!!

After church everyone commented on the service, and the sermon and are looking forward to having their church represented as a true Church of God on the internet. Lisa and I were then invited to one of our member's home for lunch. It was delicious!

I was so excited when we got home, I couldn't wait to put the sermon on the site. Well, I did have to wait as it turned out, spending about 5 hours trying to find a site to post the video, uploading it, checking it and hoping it would turn out ok.

Today I have received several more comments about the video which has me even more excited about this new method of spreading the word.

Those of you who have sent comments, it is my desire to get to know you better so that you may feel a special bond with our church. I have all kinds of plans for the future including having DS members select the hymns we'll sing and even contribute to the sermon as one of you did for the veterans sermon.