All Saints East Dallas had its second Preview Service Sunday night, and it was a wonderful time! I loved the worshipful atmosphere that filled the church and the grounds. God was beautifully and faithfully present throughout the service. I loved preaching about Beauty that Saves. I loved meeting new people and seeing new faces. And, I especially loved seeing new connections being made. That is probably my favorite part of my job. Relationships, to me, are a sacred space. They are a space God entrusts to us with others, and it is our joyful privilege to tend those sacred spaces through honest dialogue, authenticity, transparency, and most of all love.
When St. Paul lists the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the first one he names is love (see Galatians 5:22-23). Without the Spirit of God, it’s hard to love others. When we walk in those relationships in the power of the Spirit there is a great freedom present that wouldn’t otherwise be there. In the new relationships formed at All Saints East Dallas there will be great affinity and commonality. There will also be disagreements, heated discussions, and even frustration. We’re human, we’re broken, and we’re all a mess. But God’s love is bigger than our mess and the environment of his love re-directs our otherwise frustrated energy into transformation, remaking us into the image of Christ. And more than that, He helps us see each other as He sees us. We’re reminded that we’re all a work in progress and that we can rest in his love.
In an effort to continue to foster these new relationships, we’re having a picnic! That’s right, Sunday, September 27, 5:00-7:00 pm, we’ll gather at the Stone Tables park near the corner of Buckner Rd and Lake Highlands Dr. Bring your dinner, a chair, and be ready to enjoy the company of others in the beautiful fall weather. The kids can run and play, and it will be a fantastic time. I hope to see you there. Stay tuned for an invite email.
You’re in my prayers this week - I hope to see you at the next Preview Service.
Jay