Bring the Light

I'm reading a book called Between a Rock and a Holy Place by Rev. Tom Nolan.  Tom is a retired elder in the West Virginia Annual Conference. In his retirement, he and his wife chose to be a part of our church. We are blessed periodically to hear Tom preach. He's a wonderful preacher; his book is a collection of his sermons. 

I just finished the first sermon called "Keep an Eye on the Acolytes."  In it he says, "I'm glad we have candles in churches. The flames remind us that we are not alone here. It isn't just us. Somebody else is with us. Jesus, the light of the world is here in God's house. His presence lights our way and ignites our hearts with his love."

I remember in 2008 that a member of our church died. Jim Ray was a man of service - involved in practically everything in church, but more than that, in service to the community. People who rode the bus with him came to his funeral to remember him. He spread the light of Christ, all the time. You can read about him here.

We realized at his funeral that the altar candles were lighted. Why? Because he was the one who lit them for funeral, quietly, just in service.

Bring the light.