An Unexpected Event at Sunday Worship

Today, I have invited Ryan Stratton to write a guest-post. Ryan Stratton is currently employed as Youth Director at Buda United Methodist Church in Buda, Texas, and a student at Wayland Baptist in San Antonio, Texas. He serves on the Austin District Lay Speakers Board, Austin District Youth Professionals, and the Austin/Crossroads Chrysalis Board. I am honored to have Ryan's message in word today.

The measure of God’s love can be expressed in many ways, depending on each person’s circumstance or situation. God’s love is the same for each of us, but impacts us in different ways in our lives. 

One Sunday, during the message, an elderly lady passed out, so some of the congregation began to check on her to see how she was doing. Once it was known she needed help, a prayer was offered up to help her heal and help her family during this time. The message for that day was about love and how we can express love to each other. 

Then, something amazing began to occur, a few people in the congregation stood up, held hands and prompted the entire congregation to create a large circle around the woman. This was a circle of love that can only be seen through the love God gives each of us. When EMS came, the woman made some jokes and had the people around her laughing and they took her to the hospital. 

The incredible piece to this story is that a sermon on Love was given by the people to the people in a way that could not be expressed by words. “Amazing Grace” was sung as the congregation took their seats and the service continued in prayer. “Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound, that save a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind but now I see.” To be part of this experience was incredible and what amazed me even more was how much God’s Love filled the room and the hearts of the congregation. 

copyright 2012 by Kathy Robbins