It's officially Christmastime. Actually, it's officially Advent.
Yesterday was a busy Sunday for me. Oh, I go to Grace United Methodist Church in Mt. Juliet. Have I mentioned that?
I got up with the roosters (no really, I have one in my bathtub. Okay, no I don't.) to lead worship with the United Methodist Men. So I was at Family Life Center around 7 AM. If you know me well, you know that's ridiculously early for me. I led a couple Christmas songs and a medley of Charlie Hall's "Prepare the Way" and the Gaither's "Something About That Name".
Then I headed over to the main building to teach Sunday School at 9:45. I sang at the 11 a.m. service. I don't remember being that nervous in some time. The reason I was especially nervous is that I had written the music for the song that morning. Yep. I sang "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" with new music. I tuned the guitar to an open E. So, essentially, I was making it up as I went. And, if I do say so myself it turned out to be pretty good!!
Went home. Took a nap.
That night I led the youth in Advent worship (again singing Prepare the Way and a few others). Jennie (Jennie Irene Murray - the youth pastor... since I haven't told you who she was yet) spoke on preparing the way of the Lord. We then headed over to the church for the Christmas cantata. Our family life center is about a city block from our church.
This morning I led Christmas carols for the "Young At Heart" group of my church. If you can't tell by the name, it's essentially the elderly of our church. It was fun. We sang a bunch of Christmas carols and a medley of "Prepare the Way" and "Something About That Name". I was with old folks. I had to bust out the Gaither.
And they paid for my lunch. And David's. And Ken's. (David Teel is the education and programming director at my church. Ked Edwards is my pastor. I can't remember their middle names but something in me wants to think that it's Wayne for both of them). So, I got a free lunch with my pastors and we had our own table free of old people. I jest. Then David and I went to Target and looked at Playstation stuff for his daughter. So, that was fun.
So, as I write this in the glow of the Christmas tree (and a laptop screen) unable get Charlie's simple song out of my head, I am thankful for these opportunities to prepare the way of the Lord. I hope you will allow yourself many as well.
Prepare the way.
Prepare the way.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Prepare the way.
Prepare the way.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
You are the light of the world.
You are the light of the world.
You are the light of the world, Jesus.
You are the king of the Earth.
You are the king of the Earth.
You are the king of the Earth, Jesus.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus;
There's just something about that name!
Master, Savior, Jesus
Like the fragrance after the rain
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Let all heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
But there's something about that name!
Prepare the Way indeed.
