Moving On

Since around the end of September, I've been attending and leading worship at other churches, and it really has been a wonderful thing. I realize how big the body of Christ is, and how fun it is to go and relieve those that serve weekly in leading worship, so that they can have some recharge time. I've really been liking this a lot. Recently, I've done it a few times at the Desert Springs Church Refresh service and that has been great to work with Paul Talley, Dave Harrison, and Michael Gagliardi (and his daughter on bass - go girls!). Anyway, I write this in case some of you have been wondering why you don't see me leading worship at Southwest anymore. It just seemed like a season of eight years of ministry was coming to a close there, and that it was time to move on. Meanwhile, I've been really enjoying leading worship here and there, whether it's a women's retreat or a Sunday morning service or for my treasured friends in my bible study group. It has really been a great time of refreshing and also allowed me to handle some new responsibilities at work (helping to administer the IB Middle Years Programme at the school where I teach). Anyway, just in case you wondered if I'd fallen off the map, I'm still here.
Regarding writing and the worship posts project, I think i'm going to hold on for right now. I'm really just enjoying leading people in worship in a live setting with songs that they know (and maybe one or two they dont' know yet) as the Holy Spirit leads. It is such an incredible adventure to be a part of, and to partner with everyone in that moment of that worship experience. It's a great honor to be able to facilitate moments with God for people. So, since those moments seem to be happening through live worship together with others and not writing on my own, that's what I'm going with.
A friend of mine once said that people are never in the same place that you've left them. I really love that idea because it means that you allow them to grow and change, just as you are growing and changing. In a way, it's like considering grace and forgiveness for yourself as well as your friends - and the exciting part is always reuniting with them to find out what they've been up to since you've last met. I think, unfortunately, we're not as good at extending this kind of grace to people who have - in our estimation - harmed or wronged us in some way. But, it is the thing we must do. To extend grace and mercy. As we have been given we need to freely give - and in this case what we give is the grace and the space to grow and just as we are too. I guess it could be likened to the verse where Paul says "when I was a child I talked like a child..." (1 Cor 13:11) etc. I write this because people often leave a place of worship becuase they are embittered by something - but they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, continually growing and changing just as we are - and we need to extend the grace and peace of Christ to them as well as receive it for ourselves.
In His arms,
Julie