Praise the Lord! Praise God in the sanctuary; Praise God with the sound of the trumpet; praise God with the lute and harp! Praise God with timbrel and dance; Praise God with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise God with loud cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

                                                                                                               —- Psalm 150

September 2010

Dear Partners in the Gospel, 

We enter a concert hall or sanctuary, find our seats, and listen with anticipation as the orchestra or music team tune their instruments. The sound is often discordant, not melodic. But the tuning is simply a prelude to either the concert or to worship.

C.S. Lewis suggested that’s how it is with our devotional practice and even our worship services. Sometimes they sound discordant, but God hears our prayers and praises with Fatherly delight. And each time we worship and praise we are really preparing for participation in the glorious symphony of heaven. Now we are making a minuscule contribution to the harmonies of angelic and redeemed hosts ,that wonderful cloud of witnesses who cheer us on in our race of faith. 

Our worship, praise and adoration, pleases the heart of God more than the finest renditions of earth’s greatest orchestras. And a child of God whose heart is  filled with praise and who lifts up their voice–harmonious, hoarse or harsh–brings great joy to our Creator God. 

Almost two months ago we declared that Peace Lutheran would be a House of Praise.  And we have been true to our word. I don’t know about each of you, but I leave worship each week with a song in my heart that carries me through the week until the next time we gather together to offer our prayers and our praises.

I sense that even our attitudes are transformed when we realize that our worship and praise as the people of Peace Lutheran brings such delight to God’s heart while at the same time filling our hearts with joy and peace. We are so blessed to be able to pray, praise and fellowship together in a church sanctuary that resounds with joy and singing. 

Can’t you just feel it in the air!  Grace and peace abound here!

Joyfully, heartily resounding,

Let every instrument and voice

Peal out the praise of grace abounding

Calling the whole world to rejoice and praise!

                               —-Routly

 

Peace Lutheran Church … A House of Praise.

In service to Christ,

Pastor Sue