Serve by Design

“I wish everyone could attend a church like ours!” That's what I said  to Monique on our way to the car after this year’s Christmas Eve services.  Once again, we had been blessed in worship! This time it was the early contemporary service that was one of three special services Springfield First offered at 2, 4, and 7 on the afternoon and evening before Christmas.  Laniakea Illustration: Mark Garlick Milky Way (red dot) sciencephoto.com This contemporary service was full of heartfelt praise, lively singing of seasonal favorites, and a message of hope that had us reflecting on how a loving God sent His Son into this world! The energy in the sanctuary was contagious! Worshippers were drawn into a closer fellowship with the Father and His people. It was spiritually uplifting to conclude worship by breaking the darkness as hundreds of us held our lighted candles and softly sang, “Silent Night!”   I was left nearly speechless and kept thinking to myself as we walked out ...

Wow! What a year this has been for us! In the fall, we experienced a dazzling annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse during our October 2023 visit with family in New Mexico. Next, and about a month ago, we marveled at a near total solar eclipse here in central Illinois! It was another feeling of déjà vu for us! And to cap it off, this week, we (and millions of others in all fifty states!) were treated once again to another spectacular light show – the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. What color and beauty! This latest show has been more memorable because it has extended into a week-long nightly astronomical pageant. Locally taken photograph: J. Goss I am not a scientist, but I do wonder at times how those in this important field of study understand these “sky shows.” A cursory reading around the news coverage assures me that the finest minds have no problem describing this phenomenon in exacting detail. They speak of “solar flares and storms,” “chemical interactions with earth’s magne...

The hoopla surrounding this week’s solar eclipse was contagious! Even though I was nonchalantly saying to Monique, “Honey, we just saw a solar eclipse last October during the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta! For me, it’s just ‘Deja vu all over again!’” (Thank you, Yogi Berra!). However, as the event got closer, even I couldn’t resist the hype! "I see it!" At 12:55 pm Monday, we stepped outside, put on our eclipse glasses (a must have!), and stood by the side door of our garage. The view was perfect… at least for me! Mimi was trying to get her balance and crane her neck upwards, but she still couldn’t see the sun. I moved over next to her and gently moved her head even further up while coaching her to “Look way up!” Finally, she exclaimed, “I see it! It’s a crescent shape!” During the next thirty minutes or so, we enjoyed a partial eclipse! What was only a partial eclipse for us in central Illinois became a total eclipse for nearly 32 million in the 100-mile-wide pathway of total...