February Vision Column

Vision – February 2008

From the Pastor’s Desk

When I was growing up in Virginia, Sunday morning was time for church. My father worked Monday through Friday and was off for the weekends. Saturday was the day for shopping and Little League games. On Sunday all of the stores were closed, no activities were scheduled and everyone knew where they were supposed to go. It seemed like every family in our community went to church on Sunday morning.

Today times have changed. We live more hectic lifestyles. Many of us work on weekends, all the stores are open, and Sunday mornings is often the only time available for activities for children. Sunday mornings are now not only about church. People have many options from reading the paper at Starbucks to hiking in the mountains to surfing off the coast.

The church has to respond to the changes in our culture. It is not enough anymore to have just one service on Sunday mornings and hope to meet the spiritual needs of the people in the community. That is why we here at Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church are offering to the community alternative times and ways of connecting to God.

Many people get up early to begin long commutes to work. Along with morning coffee they need morning prayers for a spiritual wake up. That is why we have morning prayers in our sanctuary every morning (Tuesday – Saturday) at 6:00 a.m. in our sanctuary. It is the perfect way to begin each day by connecting to God.

Other people have a hard time getting up in the morning. They like to sleep in. Sunday is often the only day they have to relax. For these people we have a Sunday evening worship service at 5:30 p.m. Our seminary intern, David Kim, leads us in singing with his beautiful voice and guitar. I preach and teach from the beloved Heidelberg Catechism. And then we move into Montgomery Hall for dinner, cooked by my wife Grace, and small group Bible study. It is a very relaxing way of worshiping God and enjoying fellowship with others.

We have nearly 100 families who bring their children here each week to the Westminster Child Center. Most of the mothers drop off their kid at 9:00 a.m. So for them we will be starting a 9:00 a.m. (Monday and Thursday) fellowship time. We are partnering with MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers, a Christian organization that helps churches to connect with mothers by developing fellowship groups.

Later this month we will be having our annual Thursday Night Lenten Soup Suppers for those looking for a midweek opportunity for worship. These will start with a soup supper at 6:00 p.m. in Montgomery Hall followed by contemplative Lenten Communion Vespers in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. At these you will find God’s peace as you are prepared for the joyous celebration of Easter.

So if God calls you worship early in the morning or in the evening or midweek or on Sunday the church is ready to join with you in prayers and song.

Blessings,

Jeff Howard, Pastor