wow

That one word says it all---"Wow!" There weren't tongues of fire visible on people's heads and you couldn't hear God's voice audibly, but all present were able to palpably feel God's Spirit working in our midst. It was a beautiful thing. And even if you weren't particularly spiritually attuned, you could hardly miss it! It seemed to me as if the Spirit had come with a spiritual 2x4, bopping us upside the head with it (affectionately, of course ;)!

The setting was Woods Church, just last Sunday. The candidate, presented by the Pastoral Nominating Committee, came to preach at all three services, and afterward, the church was holding a congregational meeting where we would vote on whether or not to extend the call to the candidate.

We are a church known for being a "big tent", which is a gracious way of saying that we are a group of people who often see things from varied theological and political perspectives. It wasn't at all clear how we would respond to the pastor's sermon. She did come to us wholeheartedly endorsed by the committee, but some in the congregation had reservations.

I can't put my finger on how the Spirit did it, exactly, but as Susan DeWyngaert preached (her message was entitled "Remember your name!"), and as we praised God, there was a sense that we were experiencing a holy moment. (It was enough to make you want to remove your sandals, as Moses did! :)

At the congregational meeting, two members of the PNC spoke and Susan also shared some of her thoughts and answered a few questions. She made it clear that she was coming to our church to represent Jesus Christ, and that she was prepared to lead our church and equip our members for ministry, both within and outside the walls of our church.

In short order, we voted and while the votes were being tallied, we praised some more, culminating in the "Waves of mercy" song that the youth so enjoy (and that they even helped us lead, from the chancel). There was tangible joy even before the results poured in. When the votes were finally tallied, we saw that there was overwhelming affirmation to extend the call to Susan, trusting that God will bless and use her in our midst. God did something beautiful and kind of unexpected that morning. When God moves like that, sometimes all you can say is "Wow!"