Dedication

Some friends of our, Dan and Patty pastor a church in Massachusetts (well, Dan does).  They are church planters in a very small community.  For the past 5 years they have been meeting in a local elementary school.  Recently, God blessed them with a new building.  The past 10 days have been a whirlwind for them and their church members.  They bought an older church building which needed much cosmetic updates.  New paint, lighting, a baby grand piano, flowers and they were ready for their dedication services.

We had the opportunity to go up and help.  We arrived Saturday around 3:45...a little later than expected as Dave's street ministry ran late.  After a brief visit, Patty and her sister were off to the store.  Dave, the kids and I went over to the church to help in any way we could.  Setting up tables and chairs, dusting, vacuuming, washing, organizing the nursery, many other things.  The church was ready for the next morning services.  Praise the Lord!!!

At 8:00ish we headed back to the house.  After supper, food preparations were finished for the next day's "meals on the grounds."  Patty's sister and part of her family were up to help.  They did most of the food preparations.  They could run a catering business!  They were very efficient and everything looked wonderful.  I headed to bed about 12:45a.m.  They were still working.  I don't know how they do it. 

We woke up to eggs, pancakes, baon, toast, homemade apple and grape juice and coffee.  What a way to start the day!!!  Thank you Cathy, Amanda, Chris, and Scott!!! 

The services were a tremendous blessing. Bro. Dan Sousa was the guest preacher.  Dave, the kids and I had the priviledge to sing 4 times in different combinations.  Thank you Lord for your guidance in choosing songs and the ability to sing! 

We left Dan and Patty's home around 9:00 p.m.  It had been a long tiresome day.  A good day.  A day to look at and see how the Lord has blessed two people, their family, and a small congregation.  A day we were able to be part of in a small way.  May God continue to bless Chester Baptist Church http://www.chesterbaptistchurch.org/.

It is funny.  I wasn't around when my home church was meeting in the YMCA or when they converted a grange hall into a church.  It must have been a lot like what we experienced this past weekend.  Now we have a new building that seats probably 400ish people.  We have come along way.  "What hath God wrought!"  God is faithful.  We have to follow him.  Not get ahead or lag behind, but follow and He will do the work.  Personally, that is something I need to get a grasp on.  Doing His will and pleasure. Not trying to force my way, but patiently follow. 

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way."--Ps 37:23