It’s not easy to post an adequate response to a great day at church. Here at WFPC the community is wearing faith, joy, promise, hope, and belief in the future like “a garment of praise.” So I guess I have to start with scripture.

It’s a longer passage than I typically paste into my text, but in reading Psalm 61 this morning I couldn’t get this one idea out of my mind. The idea that God is in the business of restoring his people, and that there’s not a single congregation in this great nation where healing, hope, promise, and joy are not a possibility given the nature of our God!

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:1-4)

We’ve been here in Wake Forest nine months now, and I can’t help but notice a lot of garlands where there used to be ashes; the oil of gladness is getting all over everyone; and where there once was a faint spirit, God’s people are wearing this amazing mantle of praise.

This is God’s word to the church in the United States: build up… raise up… repair; be oaks of righteousness… display God’s glory… bring good news… proclaim liberty… release those who feel like they’re in prison…

This is the ministry of good news and reconciliation.

WHAT HAPPENED? Sunday morning, at the 11:15 worship service, 24 young people completed their confirmation class (they’ve met faithfully since September) and made public their decision to follow Jesus.

Additionally, Rebekah baptized a baby, and the nature of the covenant promises – spoken by the parents and the congregation at baptism – were beautifully illustrated in the faith of the young people who went through confirmation.

The church was full, the spirit was infectious, and it was during the offering, as the choir were singing a lively version of Art Garfunkel’s “I will sing, sing a song,” that I noticed the “garment of praise” settle over the congregation.

JOURNEY: We’re on a journey here, and we all have a long way to go. But the testimony of encouragement I’d like to share with every congregation of believers is this: God is in the business of gladness and praise, restoration and liberty, good news and more good news!

– DEREK