Palms
West Presbyterian Church is having a Christmas Eve candlelight service so I
finish up with Mary Anne a little early and start the walk over. It’s two and a
half miles so it will take me just under an hour to get there.
Within
a half hour I pass the spot where I spent the night on my way up, and soon
after that I am nearing the turn where I should go left to the Presbyterian church.
Right on that corner though there is another building that looks intriguing.
Much like Living Hope in Pennsylvania it has a contemporary design but still
looks like a church. I can’t see a sign, but it’s Christmas Eve and there’s a
crowd of dressed-up people going in. I know the Presbyterian church is having a
service, and I already know people there, so I hesitate for a minute about
experimenting with a new church sight-unseen. Eh, might as well…
As I
round the front of the building I see the sign “Community of Hope.” Hmmm… A
little ambiguous, but promising. I definitely like the architecture, I remember
someone mentioning that a church over this way was just built within the last
year; this looks like the one. The front lot is bustling with people coming and
going. According to a sign out front the first service is just ending and the
second one will be starting in about 20 minutes. As I enter the door greeters
are handing out flyers. I take mine, and almost pass by but the lady stops and
takes a second glance.
“Is
this your first time here?”
“Yes,
it is.”
“Oh! Welcome!”
She points to the far end of the wide foyer. “Help yourself to a cup of coffee
down there, it’s free. The service will be starting in just a few minutes.” I
thank her and make my way across the bustling foyer. Screens mounted on the
walls are flashing through announcements and showing a countdown to the service
start. People are standing around drinking coffee and talking excitedly. There
are comfortable chairs set up in circles and as I near the coffee bar there are
tables and chairs set up like a café. The entire effect is a very comfortable,
inviting atmosphere. The crowd is thicker around the coffee bar and there’s a
short line. Several people introduce themselves to me and I end up talking and
telling my story for a while before I get over to the counter and get a coffee.
The people here sure are nice! The décor also says a lot about their cultural
awareness simply because it’s not designed to look religious and churchy in the
way that would intimidate some people and set a liturgical tone. The countdown
on the TV screens is getting close, so I head over toward the auditorium. The
ushers are handing out candles as we enter the large room. It is packed full of
people and it won’t be easy to find a seat. Near the front I find an empty
chair on the end of a row and settle in. Larry and his wife (a couple I just
met in the foyer) are sitting right across the aisle from me. There’s a huge
widescreen display above the platform and it’s flashing through the same
announcements that were playing out in the foyer. On the bigger screen I can
see that they aren’t just text thrown up on a flat background. Someone with very
good graphical design skills has put these visuals together very
professionally! That’s impressive, and like the design of the foyer, it shows a
level of savvy and intentionality beyond what I normally see in religion. I
haven’t heard anything about their doctrine yet, but I can see it showing
through the atmosphere they have created in the place. I’m getting the feeling
I’ve just stumbled across my church home, and it’s walking distance from the
campground!
The
worship team steps out on to the platform and starts up. They’re good that’s
for sure, and it’s songs I know and can sing along to. The leader is at the
piano and he is beaming! He engages the people and truly leads with a
contagious spirit of worship and celebration. This man is spiritually gifted! Later
on I learn that his name is Billy Langley and he is the “Creative Arts Pastor”
He not only leads the music and worship, but he’s the one who creates the
professional graphics I’ve been seeing and he was even involved in the building
design. Between songs they show a safety video about the candles. It’s home-made,
but again surprisingly well done. The entire crowd is in stiches while the characters
try to light candles with defective lighters and set each other on fire. The especial
effects and editing show again that someone with significant skills in video
editing has put this little video together. I haven’t even heard the preaching
yet but I don’t think I’ve ever been so impressed by I church!
When it
does come time for the message, the pastor steps up and shares a beautiful
Christmas message. I’ve been going about my walkabout and worrying about work,
finances, security, and a place to sleep. I haven’t bought a single Christmas
present and it’s been mostly over 80 degrees, so it hasn’t even felt like
Christmas time, but suddenly I feel overcome with Christmas spirit and
celebration for the coming of Christ to this dying world. I have tears of joy
and thankfulness in my eyes. I couldn’t have asked to have found a better
church and such a perfect place to live in a beautiful, rural Florida
neighborhood! My life is just about perfect right now.
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