A Holy Moment

God moved in this little town called Llano

It’s been a while since I have had a chance to really sit down and take some time to put down my thoughts in black and white. While there has been a lot going on, the reality is I just haven’t made writing a priority, although I do enjoy it very much. For my lack of consistency, I am sorry.

Here in just over a week, I’ll be spending some time in Colorado on a Sabbath Retreat. One of my goals is to outline some writings and plan out some potential series for this fall season. I hope to be better and hope to get back into a routine of writing.

In the meantime, I wanted to share something that happened in our Little Llano Town this past weekend. But first, a little back story.

Before I arrived in Llano in 2020, the Lutie’s Place had a tradition of meeting every first Sunday of the month with one service. If you aren’t aware, traditionally the people called Methodist have observed communion on the first Sunday of the month. While John Wesley believed in what he called “A Duty of Constant Communion.” John called Holy Communion “The Grand Channel of God’s Grace.”

His brother, Charles, who wrote hundreds of hymns, once wrote:

“This is the richest legacy
Thou hast on man bestowed,
Here chiefly, Lord, we feed on thee,
And drink thy precious blood.”

Perhaps sometime, I’ll go further in-depth on our theology of communion, but at this time, I just merely want to point out that the Church in Llano would gather once a month in one service to partake together.

However, through Covid and all the “Social Distancing” (NEVER AGAIN), traditions like the Single Service Sunday went by the wayside, and when we all returned, we returned to having communion in our two separate services.

A couple of months ago, in one of our Church Council meetings, I was asked if we could compromize on the tradition and perhaps do the occasional Single Service Sundays, and we landed on the 5th Sunday idea. This would mean that four times per year, we would be gathering together in one service and celebrate what God was doing in our midst.

This past weekend was the first of, I hope, many Sundays we are calling 5th Sunday Celebrations.

Over the last month, with the help of Rob, our Organist/Pianist for the 11:00 traditional service, and Jenny our worship leader for the 9:00 service, we created a service outline that put a heavy emphasis on worship. All I can say is: God showed up!

I’ll say it kinda made me feel like this picture from the Llano Bridge does:

It was as if the sun rose right in the sanctuary.

After the sermon, I requested that Rob put together a special song to help us prepare for communion. His original intent was to create a mash up of a couple of songs, specifically “I feel Heaven in this Place” and “Surely the Presence.” But as he began to play, worship broke out and the Spirit of God was so thick in that sanctuary that it was almost too much. Tears began to flow. Praises were sung. Hearts were poured out. The Brush of Angels Wings were heard. It was truly a Holy Moment.

There is an old Celtic belief that there are what are called “Thin Places” on the earth. These places are where the veil between heaven and earth are so “thin” it’s as if you can get a glimpse of the other side.

We could truly feel heaven in that place.

People are still talking about it. People are sharing the video from the stream on our YouTube Channel. While I’m glad for this, I just don’t think YouTube does the moment justice…but it at least gives you a glimpse.

My brothers and sisters, God is moving. There are so many things in the world that give me cause to begin to worry, but then I experience a moment like this and my worry and anxiety all seem to melt away.

My prayer is that this type of experience becomes the norm!

As you go through this week, my hope is you will know that the Spirit of God is moving….not just in the Methodist Church…but in our Churches in Llano. Even better, not just in Llano, but in the Churches of our Covenant Area, our Conference, and in the Global Methodist Church and many other denominations around the world.

Expect God to Move.

Stay Hungry For God, My Friends.
Pastor Bryan