It Only Takes A Spark . . .
This is part one in what will become a series of posts following the creation and evolution of SHINE, a contemporary worship service at Glenwood Presbyterian Church. You can find the table of contents here.
It’s ironic, I guess, that the path to a new contemporary worship service at Glenwood started with a recent technological advancement - a simple email. You could also say it started with some other unusual things, that looking back, are clearly the handiwork of God.
The events that were set in motion by the email in question didn’t have anything to do with a contemporary worship service. Who knew but God that it would end up there? And the email was sent only as a welcome and an invitation from one member to another, but it turned into so much more, just as the simplest spark can produce a roaring inferno.
Glenwood is a small church with a membership of around 85 and an average Sunday morning attendance of around 50. Much of that membership is getting older and there were concerns that without an increase in the number of young families, the church would be in serious trouble in the not-so-distant future.
Kevin, a member of our church, had lately been attending other churches with his spouse and daughter due to a move to King, NC. He came to Glenwood on March 5, 2006, to worship because he mistakenly thought he was supposed to serve as an usher that morning. But Debbie, another member, spoke to him that morning and followed up with the following email. This email, like others that I will post here, has been heavily edited in order to focus on the important parts and have been used with permission from the authors.
From: Debbie
To: Kevin
March 7, 2006Hi Kevin,
It was so good to see you at church Sunday! It is ironic that you were there because you thought that you had to usher. There seems to be two different lists floating around since it said in the newsletter that Brian is supposed to be responsible for locking the church this month and it is actually my turn on another list that i saw. Anyway, I am thinking that maybe God brought you there Sunday because I had been thinking about you and your family and writing you an email and i just never stopped to take the time.
Glenwood needs you and Jennifer and Sarah!! Our church membership has really dwindled down and it seems like the few of us that are left are working all of the time trying to help it survive.Glenwood Church means so much to our parents and family members that grew up in the church and also to our forefathers that sacrificed in order to build the church and all the history that it contains. As my mom says, “Everything important that has ever happened to me, happened at Glenwood Pres Church.
I am sure you have noticed…our church has very few men….and some of the most active, older ones are starting to step back….which is only understandable….they have worked hard and deserve to be able to turn the reins over to someone else. You would be such a valuable asset to Glenwood….you have your dad’s gift of leadership and public speaking. We need you!
With love in Christ,
Debbie
This was followed by a reply from Kevin:
From: Kevin
To: Debbie
March 7, 2006Hi Debbie. Thank you for this very thoughtful message. I want you to know that I pray regularly for Glenwood and that I would love to see a resurgence and revival at this church that is so very special to all of us.
For so small a church, Glenwood accomplishes a great deal more than most people realize, I suspect. Sometimes I feel like Glenwood is akin to a “mom & pop” store trying to survive in the age of Wal*Mart (i.e.. “competition” from so many larger churches with “mega” congregations, mega programs, mega musical productions, etc.). But small or not, I love Glenwood. I love to attend there.
One thing Glenwood offers Sarah, that Calvary cannot, is the chance to be “one of few,” such as in a stage program (such as Bible School, singing on the stage during our Christmas get-together, and maybe this month’s talent show for Habitat, I hope). This is one time when being small has an advantage. Calvary has simply too many children for any one four-year-old to feel unique, or to be able to “take the stage” and perform for the whole church. Sarah LOVED her chance to perform (sing a Christmas song) back in December — and at Glenwood she can do things such as that, where at Calvary she is one of seemingly hundreds of children.
I’m like you and everyone else — I love that church with all my heart. There will never be another Glenwood.
Hey, do you have a phone number where I can call you this afternoon? I would like to talk with you.Debbie, thanks again for your remarks Sunday, and for this e-mail. I look forward to discussing this with you some more. I have at least one idea…
Kevin
Kevin made that phone call, and shared his one idea with Debbie. And the spark had turned into a flame….
Tomorrow, we’ll hear what Kevin’s idea was and how the fire grew…
