Want to spread the word about NightLights? Then, volunteer for the "Spreading the Light" phone calling campaign in May. 

The campaign will pull together more than a dozen callers who will call Orange residents (and surrounding area) to invite them to a NightLights service. 

Callers will use a script that is developed for them and use their own cell phones. The work is easy, rewarding, and fun. Calling will take place on May 12, 15, 16, 19, 22, and 23. We will have a training session immediately prior to calling at the church, but you actually can call from wherever you are. 

Our goal is to get a commitment for attendance at our May 27 gathering so that that a large portion of our neighbors can "taste and see" if they like the NightLights worship experience. 

This is a major component of our marketing effort of NightLights this year. 

For details, call Trinity United Methodist Church at 540-672-3544. 

On Thursday nights, for the next several weeks, we are talking about Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ". Strobel is a report for the Chicago Tribune who starting out trying to refute Jesus and who he said he was. He wanted to examine the evidence and convey to readers the "truth" about the most famous man in all history. 

He did original research and sought after translations and historical evidence (after all, he was a police reporter and crime was his beat).  He interviewed theologians and atheists to get to the bottom of the Christ enigma.

 What he found startled him. And the questions he asked are the same ones we should be asking. Why? Because if Jesus really was he said he was, then the results have an impact on my life. And yours. 

Did a historical Jesus really exist? Or is that a fable?

If he really existed, did he really do the miracles that are recorded about him? Or is that just Christian propaganda?

Did he really die as a substitute for our sins as he said he did? Or was that just same lame excuse for martyrdom?

Most importantly, did he really rise up after being dead for three days and say that his death was the sacrifice needed to substitute for our deaths? Or is that just some scheme the church put together to control the behavior of its adherents?

These are pretty important questions. And, mostly, people just gloss over these questions --  either rejecting the answers or blindly accepting what's given to them. 

Hardly ever do we get a chance to examine the evidence and hear from the experts in a learning forum. Come on thursday to hear what you may have never had a chance to hear before. 

Tomorrow night (Thursday, April 15) begins an  exciting new worship experience at Trinity.

NightLights is a dinner and a gathering. Some  good music. And a place where people can  discover things that are real.

The service is designed for those who work on  Sundays or those who are looking for spiritual  answers and may not relate to traditional worship.   

Tomorrow starts a message series called "The  Case for Christ." This series highlights the  work of Lee Strobel, a journalist, who set out to  debunk the historical Jesus and ended up  accepting him as the authentic and transforming Christ.

The supper starts at 6 in the Trinity social hall;  worship at 7 in the sanctuary. It will be  good to see you there. 

One of the differences between the NightLights set up and a traditional sanctuary layout is that the worship leaders are dispersed among the audience.

In traditional services, the congregation is observing what is going on and the worship leaders are sometimes above the congregation as though the preacher and choir are speaking down them. In the NightLights set up, it is almost like all attending are a part of the worship team. And, yet, it doesn't feel like it should be uncomfortable for new comers.

The size and layout of our sanctuary forces this layout but it works very well. Because the drum kit is electronic, it can be placed almost anywhere without being so loud in one place. In fact, the bass, percussion, and other instruments can be distributed around the sanctuary and, because they are electronic, they can be mixed together and amplified through the central speaker system. Best of all, the pastor talks from a small podium which is set way out front very close to the first pew. Taking the message off the altar feels more initimate and involves the congregation.

This is a very good set up for NightLights because the sermon will sometimes involve a discussion. The pastor and the congregation will engage in back and forth dialogue and the result will be a deep dive immersion into Scripture and spiritual issues. 

We had a good rehearsal gathering last night for NightLights. We have some kinks to work out but I think everyone was glad they came.

The next rehearsal gathering is on March 11.

NightLights is looking for those who are excited about worship and want to be greeters or users for the Thursday night service that will start in April. Please let Pastor Tom know that you are interested or comment here. 

For I am about to do something new. See, I have aleady begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. -- Isaiah 43:19.

I like Steve Kropp's song "Undignified." It's all about being a fool for Christ's sake. That's biblical (1 Corinthians 4:10), you know. Many Bible characters employed shocking, unconventional behavior to challenge accepted norms, deliver prophecies or to mask their piety. They were -- well -- different from the crowd.

The Apostle Paul's statement in the NIV says, "We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!"

He is aligning himself with the Prophets of Old and pointing out that foolishness is in the eye of the beholder and can be a means to wisdom. See Job 5:13

He also said "If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise" (1 Cor 3:18).

Eugene Peterson, in The Message, says it like this: It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they call us names, we say, "God bless you." When they spread rumors about us, we put in a good word for them. We're treated like garbage, potato peelings from the culture's kitchen. And it's not getting any better.

Are you willing to be undignified so that someone can become wise in Christ?

The pastor has said, Remember, in wholeness differences are not eliminated; rather, they become alive.  The different parts interact and cooperate. That's the same picture that the Apostle Paul painted when he talked about all the parts contributed to one body. Many parts, one body. NightLights gives us a chance to appreciate the creativity of God as we worship Him. There may be some parts that are new to us or have been forgotten. Or atrophied from misuse. God himself refused to leaave us as robots when he gave us free will. Let us use our whole selves, including our free will, to worship God.

In the Sunday NightLights planning meeting, we discussed the phrase, "All are welcome." It was very important to the group to emphasize the fact that we are trying to remove barriers. Racial, economic, and denominational barriers for sure. But also the barriers that keep people from examining their spiritual life.

Clothes a little worn or dirty? No problem. You are welcome. No Bible or Bible knowledge? Don't worry. You are welcome. Just visiting with no particular spiritual interest? You are welcome. Unable to express yourself about life's big issues? You are welcome. Don't know the words to the songs? You are welcome. Angry at denominational groups that want to tell you how to live your life? You are welcome. Just hungry? You are welcome.

All are welcome.