Pastor’s Corner “Preparing a Place for Worship”

See, I have called by name Bezalel… and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship… to work in every craft. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you….”

(Exodus 31:1-3, 6)

The people mentioned above are those the LORD called and empowered to prepare the “tent of meeting,” the place where Israel would encounter and worship God. This verse came to mind as I thought about Immanuel’s staff and volunteers who worked behind the scenes to prepare the services of Holy Week and Easter. In so many faithful, unseen ways, they served Jesus and you by attending to the myriad details necessary for providing these opportunities for us to encounter and worship our God. I won’t attempt to name all the volunteers, but I list here the ministries and their leaders with deep gratefulness:

·       Acolytes – Phil Oravetz (philoravetz0522@gmail.com)

·       Altar Guild – Kathy Westcott (ktwestcott@gmail.com)

·       A/V & Sound – Barbara Finney (blynn56@verizon.net) & Allen Wheeler (awdumfries@gmail.com)

·       Building & Grounds – Scott Ankers (ankers4@comcast.net) & Phil Westcott (prwestcott@yahoo.com)

·       Lay Eucharistic Ministers – Mary Ankers (MAnkers@pwcgov.org)

·       Fellowship – Kathleen Harding (kathleenmharding@aol.com)

·       Music – Meredyth Stirling (merestir@yahoo.com) & Irwin Culbreth (Lee.Culbreth@outlook.com)

·       Readers – Barbara Finney (blynn56@verizon.net)

·       Sextons – Taira Oravetz (tairaoravetz@gmail.com) & Gary Grey (Gary8638@gmail.com)

·       Thurifers – Mike Harpster (mikeharpster@comcast.net)

·       Ushers – Gary Motsek (motsekg@gmail.com)

I included the leaders’ names and emails so through them you can express your gratitude to their teams, and so that you can talk to them about joining their team! Each one of these ministries needs more volunteers.

Of course, our wonderful staff are essential to all these services as well – Tyra Harpster, Danny Cade (assisted by Vickie Morse), Melissa Byers, and Pastor Sallie Rathbone. I am so grateful to each one of them for their part in creating space to walk with Jesus.

Remember that our Easter Season has just begun. For fifty days we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, proclaiming with our lips and our lives, “The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!”

Your Pastor in Christ,