Sunday was a very busy (but also very good) day. We had a choir join us for our morning service - and they accounted for thirty-some people - a nice boost especially since the weather has been terrible lately. What is with snowstorms in April. There was a new family out (I still love that we are a small enough congregation to notice those things) and the message went well. Because I knew I was going to be tight for time I think I planned out my sermon more than I have in awhile (maybe I should get back to that).  I just find that when I do that I fall back into an intellectual discourse more than an applicable exposition... I need to find a middle ground between shooting from the hip and "academese."

The evening brought our second baptismal service of the year and potluck. I was thrilled as I got to baptise one guy that I drank tea with in China and he has since moved to Canada, a lady that grew up in a Ukrainian church in Toronto and has made her way back to that early faith via our congregation and then another person showed up with a bag packed for his baptism - he had started the journey in Venezuela at a baptist church there and now was ready to take the plunge here in Calgary. Each of their stories deeply moved me as we met together prior to their decisions to get baptized.

The potluck that followed was a great time of eating and laughing together. These are the times and places we build community that is more than just a buzzword. The awesome privilege of joining people in their baptism is what makes the slinging of chairs and hoisting of speakers worth it all.

I wish I could be more profound but a nagging back injury and standing in water that is best measured using the Kelvin Scale has left me a little off this morning - ah well its worth it.

Ehkosit,

Migwec