the impossible question

During a training exercise on speaking by invitation for better group dynamics we were asked to answer the question: What is your favorite part of worship? I was the last one 'invited' to speak in my small group and I said to them, this for me is the impossible question, or may be I should say the ultimate question of my life's work. And thus, I shall respond with the easiest answer, God. I was simultaneously proud and embarrassed by my simple and brilliant answer. I told the group that I believe the most important part of a worship service is the moment in which I encounter God the deepest. This moment varies for me in every service. Sometimes it is in prayer...other times in a song. a line of the sermon. an act of art. an unexpected hug. When I think of what one thing has to remain in a worship service to make it worship and all I can come up with is God. In opposition to the belief of many worship can happen without a sermon or even, I know it's hard for some to take, without music-gasp-I said it. What is the most important part of worship for you?

Chicken or the Church..

I can't help but wonder when I see these two new ad campaigns which came first, the chicken or the church? Is there a high level ad agent for KFC volunteering in the upper echelon of the UMC?