Dear Friends,

One of our members sent me the following in an email and the "punchline" makes a Gospel impact.

One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near him. The driver got out and said "I always park there! You took my place!"

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated "That's my seat! You took my place !" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said "That's where I always sit! You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"

The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."

Being in a resort community we are used to visitors and although we all tend to gravitate towards the same seat every Sunday, we know in the summer we might get a "new perspective" from some new pew. We love welcoming old friends back among us and meeting new ones as we enter "the season", and it is great to have the sanctuary full as we worship God together.

We indeed bid Christ to be among us each time we come together in His name. Let us not forget what he has done for us. He took our place. He took our karma and gave us grace. And let us remember Christ often does come among us incognito. We will entertain angels unawares this summer, and even Jesus himself, as we welcome all to God's house.

See you in church,

Reverend Frank S. Deming, Jr.

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