Worship Update 12/12

From Jay - please note, Jay's blog has changed locations. Follow his link on the right column for the updated link.

Can you plan out the Holy Spirit?

Two teams of average talent level take the floor at the start of the basketball game. One team has practiced, prepared, discussed a game plan, gone over scenarios, and trained hard for these next moments. The other team has never discussed a thing, don’t know each other, but are wearing the uniforms and they are going to give it their all. Which team are you betting on?

Two sets of parents are raising their children. One couple just takes life as it comes, handles each situation in the moment, and never discusses beforehand what they value, what is important, and what they hope to impart to their children. The other couple seeks to be on the same page, to be preventive in their approach as best as possible, and to be united in their messaging to their children to maximize their efforts. Which parents would you like to have?

Two couples come to the end of their working days, and retire. One couple has planned out their stocks, bonds, 403(b)’s, 401(k)’s, etc. They have developed a plan to handle what comes next. Another couple lived paycheck to paycheck their whole life and never discussed any sort of financial plan. Which couple would you like to be when you retire?

These situations may seem black and white to you. In most life scenarios, planning is looked at as prudent and generally a great idea. I’ve been a worship leader at Sunset for four years now. During that time I’ve had many conversations where the feeling is expressed that planning a worship gathering is somehow unspiritual and limits the Holy Spirit’s ability to work in people’s hearts.

I understand the conversation, but whole heartedly disagree with its basic premise. The Holy Spirit, in my opinion, is not limited by good planning. Far more important than how long a song or announcements or a talk takes or doesn’t take, is the heart of you and I, our desire to honor God, to seek His presence, and to love Him and one another.

There are realities that churches face that are just a fact of life - parking, Sunday school, people’s attention spans, etc. These things take planning to some extent to coordinate, but does that make it somehow unspiritual? Is Sunday morning the only time the Spirit desires to work and move? Can He also do it during a basketball game, in your parenting, or in how you handle your finances?
So what do you think? Can you plan the Holy Spirit out of a Sunday morning?

Opportunities to Serve

Ushers for Christmas Eve Services
If you are available to serve as an usher at any of our Christmas Eve services (Wed, 12/24 at 5, 7 and 10pm – the 3pm service has enough ushers), please email Gene Barrett at baarrett@aol.com and let him know which service(s) you are available to serve.

Food & Toy Drive
There are still plenty of ways to serve in the Food and Toy Drive!
For information about volunteering click here and you’ll find options in the lower left corner of the web page for ways you can serve.

Upcoming Events
December 15-20 – Food & Toy
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services, 3, 5, 7, & 10pm
January 11 – Peacemaker Seminar www.sunsetpres.org/go/peacemakers
January 11 – Evening Service STARTS!
January 16-17 – Mission Connexion, FREE
January 23-26 – HS Winter Camp
January 30 – Family Unity Night (FUN)
February 6-8
February 13-16 – MS Winter Camp
March 8 – Daylight Savings BeginsMarch 13-15 – Ironman Conference, sign up in the lobby or online www.sunsetpres.org/go/men