Daily Devotional for Friday, October 30, 2009 Have you missed any of our devotionals? Remember they can be found in the Archive section of our Website
http://www.gospelines.com "Too Average to Belong" Our group of teens desperately wanted to do something special for the adults of our church, to show appreciation for all they had done to make our summer program memorable. Through their sacrifice and hospitality they encouraged and loved us toward the best summer youth program we had experienced in a long while. But it wasn't done with money. It came from their hearts. We decided that we would put on a talent show at summer's end. Mind you, there wasn't a lot of talent in our group but that didn't matter to anyone. Our do-it-yourself summer would end on just the right note. We scurried around building sets out of cardboard, and spotlights made from tin cans we got for free at the cannery were hung precariously from the ceiling with much worn extension cords. Every one of the kids got involved but few had any real gift of performance to offer. There was "singing" and poetry-reading; one group did a pantomime, and another lip-synced a favorite hymn. The audience clapped and cheered each number as though it came straight from the Lawrence Welk Show. We couldn't have been more pleased at the turn-out and the reception. Those wonderful church leaders didn't show up because we were the most talented, they came because we belonged together. What an evening to remember! Right after moving to Tennessee Sherry and I spent the better part of a year visiting different churches in preparation for a project I am still working on. We were particularly interested in discovering as much as we could about congregational worship. One thing we noticed was how little participation there is in the public presentation of the service. Seldom do churches allow the laity to become involved in activities such as public prayer, reading of scripture, or even making key announcements. It's all done by paid staff in most places. And the music is mostly presented by paid performers or super-talented individuals. Usually there is a group of three or four gifted vocalists who "perform" while the words are splashed on screens above what we once called a choir loft. You will seldom hear anyone with an average voice lift their vocal praise in church anymore. What about all of us who are marginal in talent? Have all the average poets, artists and singers been handily excluded from sharing what we have to offer in celebration and praise? Mark Pierson, a Baptist Pastor, writing on the subject of excellence of performance versus increased congregational participation, has this to say, "If excellence is a primary goal (rather than participation), then the weak, the timid, the depressed, the disabled, the unskilled, the sick, the introverted, the overweight, the less attractive, the poor and the untalented aren't going to get a look in. They'll be relegated to being spectators for someone else's worship performance. It's only in being open to as much participation as possible that community can be built." The church should be a place where everyone fits in. No wonder so many average church members who have been faithful stewards (in life AND finances) through the years are now looking for someplace to belong. Let us be careful that the rules of membership and worship do not become so exclusive that the majority feels left out because they are simply too average. GospeLines Prayer: Heavenly Father, What an awesome experience to have the freedom to worship You in spirit and in truth. Thank You for the gifts You have so lavishly showered on your children; may we serve You with all that is within us and not be accused of compromising You or Your Word. Amen and amen O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected] twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
