God's people engaged in worship

This past Sunday, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was without power.  It had gone out during a heavy snow storm (complete with lightning) on Friday.  The church was without light and heat.

We still manage to have Sunday School & Adult Bible Class, and we conducted our regular Divine Service.  Much of the liturgy was spoken because we are getting used to a new hymnal and liturgical order.  A few of the canticles were familiar, so we sung those a cappella.  The hymns were all done a cappella.  The Lord's Supper was celebrated, prayers were offered, and God's blessings were bestowed.

God's people had to keep their coats on, but that was probably the biggest adjustment we had to make.  It was nowhere near the most dire circumstances which God's people have had to face in worshipping throughout the history of Christendom.  But it did go on to show that reverent worship can be done in restrictive settings.  

Here is a photo of God's people gathering for worship in much more difficult circumstances--presumably somewhere in Germany during WWII.  It could have been a Roman Catholic mass or an Evangelical Lutheran Divine Service.  Either way, it was still done with reverence, and God's blessings were still bestowed.

The power came back on at about 3 AM Monday morning.  So, we are anticipating that our Lenten Vespers (Wednesday at 7:00 PM) and Sunday School, Adult Bible Class (both at 9 AM on Sunday), and Divine Service (10 AM on Sunday) will have light and heat.  But even if something should prevent light and heat, God's gifts will still be administered.

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