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My granddad is a retired Baptist preacher from South Georgia.
I grew up experiencing this Southern Baptist church each time I’d visit
my grandparents’ small town. If one thing stands out in my mind about
those services, it’s the passion with which the 40 or so members responded
in worship. Whether it was with a roaring “Amen” or their voices
dancing with praise during a chorus of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,”
they were passionate about their Jesus! | |
| It’s that same passion in worship that makes me feel
so at home in Crosswalk. Every Sunday, 200 plus people passionately worship
God. I can see it on the faces of everyone from the high school students to
the grandmas. These people know how to worship God. No, we’re not small
town Georgia, nor are we Baptist, and in reality, we rarely yell out “Amen!”
But, we do laugh and cry and love God and each other with that same passion. |
| I can’t put my finger on which part of the service it
is that truly touches me the most, because honestly, it’s everything.
The dramas and videos help to capture the one idea, the music fills the room
with the Spirit of God, the sermons take an enthusiastic and fresh look at
the Biblical truth of the Scripture, and then there’s our weekly tradition
of taking communion as a community of faith. Every aspect of the service allows
us to passionately experience God. |
| We’re looking forward to a new experience in Crosswalk
on Saturday, February 21st, and continuing every fifth Tuesday in 2004. “A
Night of Worship” will be an evening of praise and worship music focused
on coming into the presence of God. It will be a great time to invite friends
and family. One thing I’m sure of - there will be passion behind the
singing. It’s amazing how each week God fills members of the congregation
with the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t always come out in the same way either.
Some simply sit with their eyes closed while others stand and clap. But isn’t
it wonderful that as the body of Christ we can each be filled with a passion
for God and show it in different ways? |
| There’s a song we sing in Crosswalk called “The
Wonderful Cross.” It’s a new arrangement of the old hymn, “When
I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” (Yes – just like they sang at my granddad’s
church!) What I especially love about this newer version is part of the new
chorus written by Chris Tomlin: |
| All who gather here, by grace draw near and bless Your name. |
| It’s because of God’s unbelievable grace that we
can come into God’s presence and offer our lives in worship. I hope you’ll
consider “gathering here” with us in Crosswalk soon, either on Sunday
morning at 11:00 a.m. in Asbury Hall or on February 21st at 7:00 p.m. as we
come together to passionately “bless God’s name.” |
| Blessings, |
Renee Barfoot
Crosswalk Worship Leader |
