Tuesdays with Parables

There were eight of us, Tuesday night; seven fragile and firm humans and the Holy Spirit.

We gathered around the table for soup and bread, song and story. We'd come from as many diverse places as there were people: young and not-so-young, those who'd grown up in the faith and those who hadn't, those who'd never been to First Pres before and those who'd been here for many years. Hearts were poured on the table in beautiful ways. Spontaneous harmonies sprang up around Create in Me a Clean Heart, Sanctuary, and Be Thou My Vision, which was surprisingly unspoiled even though I quite confidently and loudly sang the wrong line to one of the verses. I was just so caught up in the song I forgot to look down at the words. Ah well, grace abounds.

And that's exactly what happened. For those two hours, in a small white church in Phoenix, Oregon, grace abounded. We shared hope and heartache and the absolutely extravagant love that Christ has for us.

It was most definitely a new creation. If you are looking for a new experience of the living Lord, please come. We'll be there again Tuesday at 6:00, with soup and bread, the parables and the Spirit.