Sabbatical week 4

This was a weekend for us to stay home and get ready for the weeks ahead. Earlier in the week, the boys each got their passport pictures taken for our upcoming big trip.

Micah getting his passport picture taken.

I have a friend who invited me to the Circle Service at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Eugene, so that's where I attended on Saturday night. It's an alternative, contemplative service rich with liturgy that strives for inclusiveness, justice, and peace. The Eucharist was served with Taize music. It was a different kind of service for me, and it completely slipped my mind that Episcopalians use real wine for communion because it sure wasn't grape juice!

For the 8:30 am Sunday service, I visited Eugene First Church of the Nazarene, where I was warmly greeted at the door. Worship time was very good, and my friend Pastor Les Moore preached a timely message on fasting from Isaiah 58. The testimony of the young lady who shared about her fast from Facebook was also inspiring.

For the 10:30 am Sunday service, we went to worship with our friends Pastor Scott and Kelly Simons at the Crow-Applegate Church of the Nazarene. We walked into lively worship, and Scott preached a useful message based on the book The Shack. I've yet to read the book, but what I heard on Sunday as well as from others, I want to check it out.

Lunch with James and Tonya after church!