tuba weekend

As many of you know I play tuba and enjoy doing it very much. Well, this past weekend was simply fantastic with regards to music and performing. I was fortunate enough to perform every day of the weekend! On Friday I had the Christmas concert with Eastern's wind ensemble. Then Saturday was great day full of art. To begin with, I spent my morning at the Kimmel Center rehearsing for the Tuba Christmas concert we played at noon there. Oh what an amazing experience it was to perform a concert with 70 different kinds of tubas! Then we went to the Annenberg center to watch London's Globe Theater company perform Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure." This group is the premere Sakespeare performing company in the world. My wonderful weekend concluded with me performing a mozart aria for my church family at Calvary. I had a fantastic weekend and was very glad that it concluded with my sharing one of the things I enjoy doing the most with my Calvary family. I am really looking forward to sharing much more with you all as we begin spending time together outside of church in small groups and just socially.
Just one more thing, thank you all who have hosted the meet Pastor Doug groups! Dot, Susan, Wilma, VanBroekhovens, it's been great! I'm still waiting for the rest. Remember, all you need to do is be gracious enough to offer your home. I'll take care of what we will do during that time. God bless.

small groups

During this and the upcoming months, I will be spreading the word around about our upcoming small groups. I thought I may also use this space to speak about them a bit more. To begin with, the premise for beginning our small groups is that we need more fellowship time with each other. As such then this small groups will be as part of our desire to have Calvary offer a fuller picture of the Christian walk. Most of what we do now is during Sunday morning and at administrative meetings. These small groups will be aimed to help us be family, and walk together in much more relaxed settings.
How will we organize the groups? Well, that will be mainly up to you, the family. I will be where all the information about the small groups will be held, things such as groups, meeting times, events, etc. But, you get to decide what types of activities will form the basis for the small groups. We would love for you to be glad to offer to lead one yourself. Now, before the thoughts of how busy you are and don't need more work from church let me tell you this; these groups will be formed around something you enjoy doing. So, your job as a group leader then, would be to come up with something you think would be fun to do. Then, let me know about it and we'd both work on finding others than would enjoy that same or similar activity. Of course we will have worship elements, Bible study, prayer, etc. as part of the groups, I will help you with that.
My reasoning for organizing these groups in this way is based on the wonderful gifts our Lord has given each of us. Each and everyone of us is gifted in one way or another. I think the problem with many churches is that we limit the range of these gifts. Leading worship, teaching Bible study well, singing, are all great gifts but they are only part of the many that can serve the church. God has given you something to work with, findind that gift may require you to look outside the church. Keep in mind that it is very likely something you enjoy doing very much. Why would God "gift" you with a talent you don't enjoy or are not comfortable with!? So, how about it? Think of something you love doing (Studying the Bible, cooking, listening to music, eating, etc.), tell me about it and we will find a way for you to enjoy it with other members of our church family!