Please consider sending in short news items as Aaron suggested for a "News from the Flock" column in our paper newsletter. His email is: aaron@ukulele.church
Tomorrow we will be testing our Live Stream for preaching. Tune in at 11:00am tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/9) by clicking this link at that time: https://youtu.be/8beSuM6yiOw
Friends, this afternoon's project for me is to create an instructional video on operating our camera, sound board, and computer for our live stream. The link to the video should be in tomorrow's e-mail. Please watch it and see if this might be a way that you could help!
Find our September Worship Schedule at the bottom of this email.
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Devotion for Tuesday, September 8th
As the Deer
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Dear Friends,
I have always been struck by the simile which the Psalmist speaks in 42:1 in this morning's lectionary readings.
1 As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
The Psalmist is in the midst of turmoil - and the longing is as if the deer is in an arid landscape. The thirst is real, and only God can satisfy that thirst. Only God can bring hope and comfort in time of trouble.
During my summers at Bethelwoods Camp, we frequently sang the simple worship song "As the Deer". The (relatively) few words that make up the song made it accessible to even our youngest campers. But beyond that, the song seemed to resonate in an environment where running into a deer drinking from a stream was a very real possibility - and being thirsty in the summer sun was something we all knew about.
The verse mixes the beauty of the deer - surely one of God's most elegant creations - with the longing and yearning for God in the midst of arid lands or difficult times.
Friends, I still turn to these simple words and lyrics sometimes in my moments of private prayer and worship. When I thirst and yearn, they offer promise of God's sustaining love.
The song is in our hymnal as #626 - and it makes a lovely hymn to play alone or with a small group while gently strumming of finger-picking a ukulele or guitar.
As you thirst, may you find cooling waters in God this day.
Grace and Peace,
Emile
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Reprinted with CCLI License # 11166879
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Friends, here is a Choral Version of "As the Deer" offered by a Youth Choir from Wales in English then Welsh.
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Worship at WPPC in September
Sunday, September 13th at 7pm - Outdoor "Parking Lot" Worship Service with Communion. We will have individually packaged Communion bread/juice cups.
Wednesday, September 23rd at 7pm - Online Communion Worship Service on Zoom.
Wednesday, September 30th at 7pm - Outdoor "Parking Lot" Worship Service.
Friends, as always, please wear a mask, bring your own chair - if possible, and exercise caution when deciding whether an in person service makes sense for you and the members of your household.
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Sunday Morning Worship: E-Mails to Live-Stream
Friends, this Sunday we will send out a liturgy for at-home worship by e-mail. Soon, however, we will begin sending out a link to watch our worship service live on Sunday morning (or watch the recording any time after the service has concluded).
The timing of that transition depends on how well the two tests described below work. We want our first "live" Sunday to be easily accessible and a good experience for those leading worship, the computer / sound board operator, and everyone at home.
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If you are able to watch the services below either live (as they occur) or after the fact, I would appreciate your feedback. It would be a great help to hear what went well - and what didn't!
Live Stream "Test" Services
Wednesday, September 9th at 11:00am: Preaching Practice
YouTube Link: Will Come Later
What we are testing: I have never preached to a camera in the balcony before. I am not sure how different and difficult that will feel. So, for this service, I am going to give an old sermon as well as lead prayers. We may also try to insert a pre-recorded video into the live stream. Is the sermon - one that was originally written to be delivered in person - still effective? Too long?
Depending on how the two tests above go, we may announce others. Thank you for your patience and your prayers!
In Christ,
Emile
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