GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN

Now and then I experience a worship service that far transcends the ordinary expectations of a Sunday morning. It becomes a glimpse of the new heavens and the new Earth.

This morning our home church, Community Church of Columbus, celebrated its 30th birthday with a special gathering at a local park. 

On a typical Sunday morning, our church consists of three different congregations, each in a different language - English, Spanish, and Chinese. This morning all three joined together on a hillside at Mill Race Park. 

The combination of past and present church members and leaders and several cultures expressing love for God in various tongues, all set in the beauty of God's good creation, opened a brief window into heaven. 

To top it off, there were thirteen baptisms following the service.

My favorite moment was when one lady announced her reason for getting baptized this morning: "I was actually baptized once before, but when it happened, I was high. So I want to get baptized again - I'm not high this time!"

After the service, quite a few people stuck around for a picnic in the park. 

The kids and Maxiane explored some of the flooded parts of the park. Too much rain recently!

Samuel, Hannah, and Sarah wanted to make sure Maxiane got to experience some ice cream at Zaharakos, so we finished our afternoon with banana splits and sundaes and malts - and were joined by some other friends there too. 

I can't imagine enjoying a summer Sunday more!