Sunday, October 3

On Sunday Ryan and I attended Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines.  It came after a surprise birthday party Saturday night for my parents.  So the kids stayed with their aunts and uncles during church.  This was ok for Ryan and I because it gave us an opportunity to worship together.  We headed to Grace's 10:45 worship service.  We were late (again) and snuck in the back door.  I don't like being late so that already gave me some anxiety.  However, the one person I know that attends Grace is their former youth director, Beth.  She waved and welcomed Ryan and I next to her and got us all set up with the bulletin and hymnal.  This hospitality was great and truly helped us feel less bad about being late and better about the service.

The first thing I noticed in service was that the bulletin is written in both Spanish and English.  This was impressive, especially since we're Lutheran.  Grace hosts another congregation within it's walls, La Vos de Esperanza.  Immediately under their welcome in both languages is the acknowledgment of their companion congregation in Tanzania.  The visual outreach seems amazing and really a core part of this congregations identity.  As the Hymn "Here I Am, Lord" (tear) concluded the Pastor gave the greeting.  Instantly I recognized the voice as my friend Pastor Ken Jones.  Ken was filling in for the interim pastor that is currently serving Grace during their transition.  I cannot tell you how excited I was when I knew the pastor in the room.  I also knew his wife Mary was likely there too.  I was so excited to see them.

The service was beautiful.  Brass music, red book liturgy, you could feel the Spirit.  Not to suck up to my friend, but Ken said exactly what I needed to hear that Sunday.  He reminded that Jesus' love for me never depends on how I feel or what I accomplish.  Through this transition in my life, I have felt like I'm not accomplishing anything and loaded with grief.  I needed desperately to be reminded of Christ's love for me no matter how I feel or how much faith I have on a given day.  Even in those low-points or those transitional points, Christ loves me the same.  It's crazy how earthly messages of accomplishment and worth can get in the way of the truth.

There was no communion at the service I attended, however they offer it every week at alternating worship services.  The sign above their entrance door says, Come to be fed, leave to feed others.  I felt spiritually fed by this congregation.

Upon leaving Ryan and I were able to hug Ken and Mary and talk with them.  It made me realize what makes a church feel like home are the people.  We have walked through this faith journey we're all on together for a while.  I knew Mary's sister when she died and spent time talking with their son, Sam. Ken and Mary listened, prayed for, and comforted me when we had our first miscarriage.  It felt so good to have someone who has walked with you in a worship setting.  I was glad God re-intersected our paths this particular Sunday.  That inter-personal connection is a lot of what church is all about.

The director of Music Ministries at Grace also made it a point to come and talk to us following the service, recognizing us as visitors.  He explained of some of the other programming opportunities at the beautiful church and where the congregation is in the call process.  We really enjoyed worshiping at Grace and will probably return when their new pastor is called.