Sermon notes
Having never been to a black church before, of course I had my expectations. Thankfully, most of them were true. It was a good spiritual service, with moving music and a good (sometimes hilarious) sermon. Some highlights:
*During the announcements, fairly-new-to-the-church Rev Warnock and several church deacons reported that they had visited those in nursing homes. When visiting Sister Evelyn, he was worried about how well she was doing physically and mentally. The elders introduced her to the new minister, and she promptly responded, "That boy needs a wife."
"Here I was worried about her," he recounted, "but she was more worried about me."
*It was Communion Sunday, prompting Rev Warnock to quip that perhaps some of "the saints of God" had had communion many times last night.
*The New Year's sermon, based on the parable in St Luke of the rich man tearing down old barns to put up new ones, touched on how richness can affect you want and what you need. During the sermon, I heard the words "phat" and "bling" used in the midst of a sermon for the first time.
*As with any good Southern Baptist preaching, Rev Warnock on several occasions crescendoed example after example, building to a rapturous outburst of applause from the congregation.
*January 1 marks the anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln in 1863. Rev Warnock made mention of this, knowingly misspeaking by calling it the "Emancipation Procrastination", to the laughter of the congregation -- including me.
*During the announcements, fairly-new-to-the-church Rev Warnock and several church deacons reported that they had visited those in nursing homes. When visiting Sister Evelyn, he was worried about how well she was doing physically and mentally. The elders introduced her to the new minister, and she promptly responded, "That boy needs a wife."
"Here I was worried about her," he recounted, "but she was more worried about me."
*It was Communion Sunday, prompting Rev Warnock to quip that perhaps some of "the saints of God" had had communion many times last night.
*The New Year's sermon, based on the parable in St Luke of the rich man tearing down old barns to put up new ones, touched on how richness can affect you want and what you need. During the sermon, I heard the words "phat" and "bling" used in the midst of a sermon for the first time.
*As with any good Southern Baptist preaching, Rev Warnock on several occasions crescendoed example after example, building to a rapturous outburst of applause from the congregation.
*January 1 marks the anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln in 1863. Rev Warnock made mention of this, knowingly misspeaking by calling it the "Emancipation Procrastination", to the laughter of the congregation -- including me.