Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. – Romans 11:9-13

Three and a half years ago, back when Rebekah first retired and we were still looking after my parents, I wrote a series of posts with the tag, “Derek & Rebekah go to church.” I featured many of the congregations we visited before we finally settled down to join with Raleigh’s Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church – the “other” HMPC – up until our move to Tarboro just over a year ago. Additionally, the tag has supported random posts about church attendance on vacation.

So yesterday, back from Poland but not yet back to work, we drove over to First Presbyterian Church of Wilson for worship and communion: hashtag Derek&RebekahGoToChurch… in Wilson.

Wilson is the congregation that called Rebekah for her first interim bridge-pastor position, a job that lasted exactly one week when she broke several bones in both feet falling in the sanctuary! It may have been two and a half years ago, but she made quite an impact. One staff member said he could still feel her energy, another man said he is still waiting to hear the second half of the two-part sermon she had started in May of 2022!

Positive energy in Wilson:

It is always a privilege to worship with God’s good people, more especially when we have a personal and an emotional connection to the congregation.

It was also good to sense the buzz of positive energy in the church. You can see it in their new pastor, Rev. Nick Demuynck, who brings a genuine passion for the Good News to the pulpit.

Rebekah and I were talking about this on the way home. When it is obvious that a pastor loves Jesus and also loves the church, then anything is possible. There is nothing more important to the health and future of The Church – any church – than leaders who are excited about their faith. Passion is contagious; and, likewise, so is indifference.

For all the nay-saying about the future of the church, and the ability of congregations to afford professional staff, I remain optimistic. Why? Because in a world where isolation and loneliness and lack of community are becoming alarmingly widespread, churches like ours here in Tarboro, and First Presbyterian Wilson, and our previous congregation in Wake Forest… all have exactly what is needed for healing and reconciliation.

We just need to do a better job with the passion part, with the “being joyful” part, and with the way we communicate the invitation into wholeness.

This is the Good News, after all! Like the song says, “He is all I need, he is all I need, Jesus is all I need.” – DEREK