Sunday adventures

1. Driving to church. The husband and I usually walk to church, which is about four blocks away from our apartment. I was invited to a different church because one of my fellow ELCA Fuller friends was scheduled to preach today. I drove up the 2 Freeway, which was breathtaking. Clouds heavy with rain hung at the tips of the mountain peaks.

2. Sitting with a friend at a new church. I mentioned Barbara on my February 5th entry (she made the awesome oatmeal cookies for bible study). Barbara attends bible study at Salem, but is actually a member at a different church. It just happened to be the same church I attended this morning! It was wonderful to worship with Barbara, and also to meet many nice people that also have ties to Salem!

3. A random purchase of concert tickets. Tenacious D at Club Nokia!

4. A new umbrella! I've had the same umbrella since my undergraduate days at Clemson. It was a big ol' honkin' golf umbrella. Alas, the supports for the umbrella are popping out, and it hurt to be poked in the head while trying to stay dry. The husband and I went out to run errands, and we found a rather obnoxious baby pink and white golf umbrella with an impressive diameter. I shoud apologize now if I take someone out on campus with it this week.

5. Getting to sing two of my favorite hymns/ songs in church this morning. And a new church at that!
The first was "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee."
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.


The second is a song is super-contemporary for what I've experienced as a Lutheran. In my very limited experience, "contemporary" songs are about 20-30 years old. One of my favorite songs to sing is Chris Tomlin's "How Great is Our God." What was interesting was that only three people knew the song at this morning's service; the choir director, a member of the choir, and myself.

VERSE(1):
The splendor of a King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God
(x2)

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God