Sunday Morning Worship

This morning was the sweetest gift to be in church. As I sat in the pew, I looked up toward the altar where the candles were lit and the prettiest floral arrangement of pink roses was just behind the flame of one of the candles. My heart melted.
The responsive reading was from Philippians 4:4, 6-8, and it seemed more beautiful than any other time I've read it. The voices of over 200 people (all older than I) made me feel safe and protected by the ageless Word of God, which they have proved over their lifetimes and which never changes.
"God So Loved the World" by Stainer - a beautiful piece that intertwined the two women's voices like soft but flourishing brush strokes across a canvas. I had the privilege of singing this same arrangement of this hymn in the college mass choir 32 years ago! Even though there were only two voices singing it this morning, in contrast to the 150 voices back then, it was no less moving.
Finally, the scripture text for the sermon was from Psalm 103:8-13. I can't help but copy it here to keep the memory of it with everything else that happened this morning:

"The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him."