Reggie McNeal Lecture to Reformed Church Leaders Part 2

Reggie McNeal Lecture to Reformed Church Leaders Part 1

Thoughts on the First Worship Service

...in our new auditorium. I wrote this article for our church's newsletter the week after our first worship service in our new auditorium.

We are finally there! But “there” is “here” now. What I’m trying to say is “we are finally at our new site!” All of us have longed for this day. Something very magnificent took place on our first Sunday in the new auditorium. It’s a day that will remain in our memories for quite some time. I’ll bet Pastor Mark is also mentioning our first Sunday in his newsletter article. But I just had to share my thoughts on it too!

I started the day, like many of you, at our 501 Old Kyle Rd. location at 9:30 a.m. The night before, a couple of people discovered there was a carillon. The controls are in a closet in the hallway between the stage and choir room. Because of their technical backgrounds, they were able to get it functioning again. So at the 9:30 service, we were drawn to the old sanctuary with the beautiful sounds of the carillon ringing in our ears.

We had a glorious service there at the old location. I was overcome with emotion as I led a few hymns from the piano. So I just turned the mic toward the audience and let them sing. Then we saw a DVD that reminded us of our history and heritage, as well as the impact we’ve had on the community and the world (i.e. The Kenya mission trip). The DVD was so good we had to show it again at the opening service at our new location. We also heard from Bro. Young, Marsha Niedecken, and Pastor Mark.

When we came to the new location, it was like the glory of the Lord fell on the congregation. As the minister of music, I just have to say that you sang so well! We truly “made a joyful noise” to the Lord. Many of you who have volunteered your precious time in preparation for this momentous occasion were exhausted by the time our first service came around. I was too! But God blessed us with the strength we needed for the day.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Mark and staff here at FBC. We feel the strength of your prayers. And pray that our church will continue to be a beacon in this community to the glory of God! We are so excited to see what God has planned for this congregation. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11)!

Check out this Video: 40 Inspirational Speeches

I saw this today. Thought it was pretty funny. Enjoy!

Wall Street Journal Radio

I want everyone to know that I've been downloading and listening to the Wall Street Journal This Morning podcast. I guess I like the show because of its tone. It's not political, yet it covers business, the arts, cultural trends, and generally interesting stories. The show's hosts, Gordon Deal and Gina Cervetti, have a lot of fun in their reporting too. So give it a listen and tell me what you think. I also recommend NPR's Marketplace podcast, which is a similar format.

King Tut - A Must See!

I'm in Dallas today at the Dallas Museum of Art. My main reason for being in Dallas is so that my family can see and experience the King Tut exhibit. If you haven't seen this, it's really a "must see" event. An added bonus is just being able to see the rest of the museum's exhibits when you've been through the King Tut portion.

Anyway, King Tut, the boy king, was about 9 years old when he ascended to the throne, and was about 19 when he died. The cause of death is a mystery to this day. Tonight, we're going to a church service at Fellowship Church in Grapevine. If you ever get a chance to see one of their services, you'll understand why they are known for their creativity.

Our family is having a great time up here in "Big D." We'll be headed home tomorrow. Our good friends, the Cottles, are with us, and they're enjoying it too. I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted anything! I'll try to do better.

Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights
Originally uploaded by jonathanpenney11

Last Friday I hung Christmas lights on the front of my house. It's a nice tradition that takes about 3 hours. I always do this the day after Thanksgiving. For a long time, Christmas has been one of my favorite times of the year. I don't care for the hectic schedule. But I don't see any other way around it. I am steeped in preparations for our church's Christmas musical/drama. But, you know, I've been preparing church choirs and orchestras for Christmas programs for 26 years. So I know the pace. Anyway, I hope we all get a chance to slow down a little this season, downplay the hustle and bustle of the shopping malls, and have a chance to think about, perhaps even meditate on, the deep Truth of Christmas: Emmanual - God with us.