When a Plan Comes Together!

I went to church last night - Tuesday. And every once in awhile you get a sense of what church should really be like, a glimpse of how God intended our gatherings to be. Last night was one of those times for me.

Walter Lamoureux died this past week at the age of 87. He was a longtime member (over 50 years) of St Bernards parish. To say he was well loved and respected would be an understatement. The proof of this statement was brought to life with a packed church.

A cathedral full of people is a pretty cool thing. There were no empty seats, the way God intended a church to be filled. Then people sang out. Not a common thing to hear in a Catholic church, but they did. The words to the songs echoed off the renovated high arched ceiling and flooded back down again over the congregation. It was truly beautiful and powerful.

After the service which was well done, filled with a great Gospel message and sweet rememberance stories, people didn't leave. They stayed to encourage the family and each other. I saw a community of people caring, loving, and providing support to each other- just as powerful as any hymn - it was love in action.

We all know church isn't a building, it's God's people. Last night I went to church, I was with God's people and they were in rare form. God's church last night lived up to their billing, stepped up to the plate and encouraged and consoled Walt's family and each other just as God planned for His church to do.

Do you remember the TV show 'The A Team' and how the leader would say in almost every show, 'I love it when a plan comes together.' Walking back to the car on a perfect cool Fall evening I couldn't help but think how maybe God loves it when His plan, His church comes together as they did last night. Sometimes God's people get it right, and that is a blessing to see and be a part of.

I want to encourage you to be part of it as well, to be a faithful encouragement for others by your attendance at church, by using your voice to praise God, and by taking time to love others you meet there. That's what God's church, God's people, are intended to do. That is God's plan. And I have to tell you, I love it when HIS plan comes together.

Blest Regards,
Keith