Last night was our first full service at C@TL. Steve and I had been planning it all week, trying to get everything in order, things purchased, photocopies made, emails sent, you name it! We went several hours early to set up the rooms. We started putting out the chairs, setting up the laptop/projector/sound box, and getting the children's room fixed up. We thought we had all this time and we soon found out the time disappeared in an instant.
Our plan had been to use iWorship for three songs, have prayer/scripture reading, do a welcome, dismiss the kids, sermon using powerpoint, invitation with another iWorship song, mission video, slideshow of the backyard bible club and dismissal with a song. At twenty minutes to 5, we are hastily trying to get the sound up and running and the slideshow for VBS is not working. People are coming in at this point. We are suppose to be mingling and talking and registering kids. When Steve started the service at 5pm, we were already tired.
We made it through to the dismissing of kids. Steve went to begin his powerpoint and the slides would not advance. I was in the children's room and unable to help him. Steve called on Gary (a techie) to help. As I hear it, the rest of the service was a bit of a technology struggle. The only other thing that was done was the mission video. Poor Steve should not have had to worry about laptop/DVD/etc when he was trying to preach a sermon. I told him that in the future if the powerpoint was not working to just stop using it and preach. He readily agreed.
Meanwhile, myself and Jane were in the children's room with seven, count them SEVEN kids! I am so glad I had prepared for them. We did two kids worship songs, had a snack, split the kids up into age groups and did our lessons, had some free play time and then went outside to expel some energy. Mind you that would have been pent up kid energy, not adult energy. By the time we came back inside the service was over. For us, the time had passed in the blink of an eye.
On our way home, we reviewed who had attended. There were 30 people for our first service. We were even missing some regular attenders. The most exciting part to us was the kids. We were disappointed the two young girls from our backyard bible club were not there. Hopefully as we continue to reach out into the community and build relationships we can draw them and others into our flock.
I am really proud of my husband. He truly loves the Lord and wants to tell people about Jesus. The equipment is just a thing and there will always be some type of issue with that piece of it. What is most important is that we share the Good News and show God's love.
In His service
Mally
Our plan had been to use iWorship for three songs, have prayer/scripture reading, do a welcome, dismiss the kids, sermon using powerpoint, invitation with another iWorship song, mission video, slideshow of the backyard bible club and dismissal with a song. At twenty minutes to 5, we are hastily trying to get the sound up and running and the slideshow for VBS is not working. People are coming in at this point. We are suppose to be mingling and talking and registering kids. When Steve started the service at 5pm, we were already tired.
We made it through to the dismissing of kids. Steve went to begin his powerpoint and the slides would not advance. I was in the children's room and unable to help him. Steve called on Gary (a techie) to help. As I hear it, the rest of the service was a bit of a technology struggle. The only other thing that was done was the mission video. Poor Steve should not have had to worry about laptop/DVD/etc when he was trying to preach a sermon. I told him that in the future if the powerpoint was not working to just stop using it and preach. He readily agreed.
Meanwhile, myself and Jane were in the children's room with seven, count them SEVEN kids! I am so glad I had prepared for them. We did two kids worship songs, had a snack, split the kids up into age groups and did our lessons, had some free play time and then went outside to expel some energy. Mind you that would have been pent up kid energy, not adult energy. By the time we came back inside the service was over. For us, the time had passed in the blink of an eye.
On our way home, we reviewed who had attended. There were 30 people for our first service. We were even missing some regular attenders. The most exciting part to us was the kids. We were disappointed the two young girls from our backyard bible club were not there. Hopefully as we continue to reach out into the community and build relationships we can draw them and others into our flock.
I am really proud of my husband. He truly loves the Lord and wants to tell people about Jesus. The equipment is just a thing and there will always be some type of issue with that piece of it. What is most important is that we share the Good News and show God's love.
In His service
Mally
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