Sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
 Sing to the Lord! Bless his name!
Share the news of his saving work every single day!
 Declare God’s glory among the nations;
declare his wondrous works among all people
     because the Lord is great and so worthy of praise… (Psalm 96)

FROM ANTICIPATION TO AFFIRMATION: Finally (and after what has seemed like an eternity since saying “Yes!” to the invitation to move to North Carolina and pastor Wake Forest Presbyterian Church) Rebekah and I showed up at 12605 Capital Boulevard for our first Sunday together.

And – wow! – yesterday morning was full with such amplified affirmation and joy. Worship together, as a faith community, turned out to be an experience that went far beyond anything we could have hoped or dreamed.

Rebekah and I were greeted – at both 9:00 and 11:00 – with genuine warmth and enthusiastic participation. To say that we are overwhelmed with gratitude, with hope, and with belief in the future would be an understatement.

Simply put: Yesterday at WFPC knocked our socks off!

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP: The early, or “Praise” service is held in the CLC (Christian Life Center). Worship is led by a most excellent band featuring talented instrumentalists, the singers have great voices, and the congregation sung their hearts out, pretty-much filling up the space.

Too often, church worship services can come across as dry, boring, or listless; or, when there is energy, it can seem contrived. But not here at WFPC! The life was all real, and we felt literally wrapped in the presence of God.

The reality of the Spirit in the room was self-evident; worship was vibrant; we could all feel the energy. Rebekah obviously felt the life, because she fed off it when she shared her first sermon with the congregation.

Rebekah’s message – taken from Jeremiah 29 – was simple. This was God’s word for his people:

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

 “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.

 “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.

“Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

It also happens to be God’s word for Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, both today and in the months and years ahead.

TRADITIONAL: At 11:15, although completely different in form and style, traditional worship turned out to be just as authentic, just as deep, just as alive.

I was – I have to admit – stunned by the sheer numbers of people who streamed in to the sanctuary to worship together. As I looked around me I realized that this truly is a church not only with amazing potential, but a church with rich resources already in place in terms of people, faithfulness, belief, and genuine commitment.

The choir sang beautifully, the congregation participated enthusiastically, the preacher preached eloquently, and Wake Forest Presbyterian Church resonated with promise and joy, the evidence of a people not only ready to move into God’s purposes, but already on the journey.

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

In faith – DEREK