Mother’s Day is always special in our church. Sunday, May 12, would be no exception to that rule. The service began with a buzz in the air and a stirring welcome from Paulo and Jody Martins. As they introduced the morning, Daniela Martins and Sarah Sherman passed out flowers to each mother. Tim Henry concluded this intro time with our theme verse for the day, Ephesians 5:21-33, and a prayer.
For communion sharing, Glede Kabongo shared about what the cross means to her. She shared vulnerably about her desperate struggle to even have children, and the miracles God worked to bring about the desires of her heart. Bob Sherman also spoke and prayed prior to eating the bread and drinking from the cup.
Perhaps the highlight of the day came next as Johnson and Wales University students, Victor Lewis and Shakira McBride, were immersed into Christ. Following heart-felt sharing from Myles Bryan, Patrick Bowry, Jenny Contreras and Anita Allen – the baptisms were viewed by all in the foyer. Both Vic and Shakira have been around awhile (over a year) and wrestled with these decisions. However, love and God’s word prevailed as they each thanked the church and echoed the phrase, “Jesus is Lord!”
Other parts of the service – a new song, “Remember,” shared by the worship team and a performance song, “Called Me Higher,” by Sarah Van Auken and Jenna Brady were mixed in with the abbreviated lesson on “The Family.”
As the day concluded, well over 100 people stood around and talked well into the afternoon. It seemed like moms were encouraged and God was praised. What could be better than that?
