The Church Hopper

On Sunday, July 17th, I visited Ascension Lutheran Church at 314 West Main Street Danville, VA 24541. I was looking for a church that started at 11am (which apparently is a thing of the past now) and found that this church still met at that time. I walked in as the service was about to start (I seem to always do this) so I grabbed a bulletin and went in to find a seat. I have been inside this church before, because it is home to the famous Crismon Tree each year. However, while I had been there before, I did not remember how oddly shaped their sanctuary was. 

The sanctuary is shaped kinda like a cross with short and even sides… Hard to explain, but definitely check them out this advent season for their gorgeous tree! (If it is back inside.) They are also celebrating their 100th year in ministry this Fall, which is so very special.

Ascension Lutheran’s order of worship was very close to the Episcopal Church that I visited the week before. Their bulletins were both full with several pages of information, the worship style was very close. (Lots of singing and liturgy.)

This church is currently without a pastor, so they are rotating different speakers from outside and in the church. This particular week, a church member led and gave the message. The governing body of the Lutheran Church is called a Senate, just like the Methodist Church has a Conference. The Lutheran Senate sends sermons, for guest speakers to read, if they are not comfortable writing a sermon on their own. The message was on Mary and Martha and how they both served Jesus in different ways during his visit to their home. Many people focus on how Mary was the one at Jesus’ feet listening, and discredit Martha for doing the cleaning and cooking. However, if Martha was given that gift of hospitality it was not “bad” for her to be doing what she felt called to do. It was just wrong for her to focus so much on feeding Jesus, that she didn’t stop long enough for Jesus to feed her also. We as Christians are called to have a relationship with Jesus and to do his work… Both, not one or the other… It reminds me of a mom during her child’s birthday party. That mom is so busy preparing the food, decorating, setting out the food, and cutting the cake that she may often not take time to let it set in that her child is now a year older. She may not take the pictures to help capture that milestone… She also may not realize who all is even at the party. That does not mean that she doesn’t love her child, it just means she has a hard time doing both… being a mom and a hostess… 

I left feeling inspired by the message; hopeful that I can take that word and apply it to my own life. At the conclusion of the service, several members, as well as the worship leader, greeted me. She filled me in on the long process of waiting for a new pastor. My heart goes out to the church and their faithful few that are still in attendance. I can’t imagine the weight of responsibility that they must feel. Please join them in prayer as they seek a new pastor and that – that person will answer God’s call in their lives!