Another First

Friday evening during our Good Friday worship service, I had another first, and probably a first for many in the congregation. For our Good Friday service, we had communion, which followed the message at the beginning of the service. Following communion, we had a Tenebrae style of service, where we had a "Service of Shadows" - Scripture reading, followed by a song and the lights getting turned off one by one.

We had lined up enough people to do all the scripture readings, so I wouldnt have to lead that part of the service. I went and sat down by my wife. As I came to sit down, I noticed the nursery attendant came and got her to get our daughter. I guess she was crying inconsolably. Lately at night she is only consolable by mom, so Brenda had to go get her. She came back into the sanctuary with baby in hand. This is okay for a while, but Brenda had to sing a couple of times during the service.

When she got up to go sing, I took our daughter and thought this will be okay, she is good with me a lot. Well, the second, Brenda left, she started to fuss, I tried to get her to stop, but to no avail, she got louder. So, I walked out of church with her to calm her down. I think that is a first time people have seen their minister leave the service with his child. But, I didnt have to do anything during that part of the service. I had a couple of offers to take her for me, but I said it would be okay. She was pretty good as I walked around with her.

It worked out perfectly, Brenda sang a song, a verse of a hymn was sung, and then the Benediction, so after Brenda finished, she came to the back, the congregation was standing singing the final song and I could walk up to give the Benediction! It was like we planned it for this reason!