Well, I just got back to my house a few minutes ago. I had the opportunity to speak at Thursday Night Worship for the first time tonight. More on that in a little while.
Continuing with my series, A Day in the Life..., today is Thursday, probably the busiest day of the week for me. Got up at 7 this morning to get ready and meet Gil for Chi Alpha's hot chocolate outreach. I plan to write a blog on this soon, explaining what we do and why. Helped prep water and load car, then drove to campus. Unloaded supplies, set up, and parked car. We stayed on campus until about noon, handing out several cups of hot chocolate to students, faculty and staff at Longwood. We also heard some awesome words from two female students. They were making their hot chocolate and they began thanking us for being out there. They said that us giving them hot chocolate really made their day and they got so excited when they saw us out there. Praise God. After we finished with the hot chocolate outreach, I came back to the house to eat lunch and get ready for Thursday Night Worship. Since I was speaking, I still had some loose ends to tie up and an outline to write before going to help load the equipment. Was late getting there (I did text Gil and let him know I would be late), so I wasn't able to type the song lyrics. Gil and I loaded his van up with all the sound equipment and other supplies we would need, then left for leadership meeting. We met with our student leaders to discuss plans they are making for a Valentines Day campus outreach, plans for the retreat next weekend, as well as other activities they are planning. The student leaders helped us unload the van and set up the sound equipment. Then we went to eat dinner together in the dinning hall (wasn't very impressive, but we did have several good conversations). After dinner, we went back to our room in the Student Union. I showed one of our student leaders how to type the song lyrics into the program we use. She typed those for us while I worked on finishing the slides for my message. Then we began setting up the tables for worship centers and getting the rest of the room ready. I went to make copies of the songs for the worship team and announcement sheets for the students. I came back to the Student Union and the worship team, student leaders, and staff prayed together before beginning. I decided that while worship team was practicing I would go look over my notes and re-read the scriptures. Around 7:45, students started arriving and the room was filled with everyone greeting one another. At 8pm, we began with one of our students announcing the upcoming events we have. Gil welcomed everyone, said a prayer, and the worship team began playing. We had an awesome time of worship, including a long prayer time. It was amazing to hear the students in the room praising God and crying out to God. Then it was my turn. I had to rearrange my message a little because there was a part I wanted a specific student to hear, but she had to leave early. I talked about the difference between flattery and affirmation. I connected it to Twilight because the main character, Bella, affirms another character, Edward (the vampire). I talked about ways to affirm one another and why we should be affirming one another as the body of Christ. I also shared a few times when someone has affirmed me and it meant a lot to me and a time when I felt I needed to be affirmed and didn't receive it. The message went well, although it was fairly short. I finished and turned it back over to Gil, who make a few additional remarks, then closed us in prayer. We packed all of the sound equipment and supplies up and loaded them in the van. I met Gil and Freeman (another LUXA staff member) at Gil's house to help unload and put the sound equipment and supplies away. We finished fairly quickly, then went to the kitchen for some chicken wings Freeman got from the abby he's working on. We discussed a little how my message went; Gil told me I need to watch my "um"s. I noticed I was saying it a lot and I've been told before that's something I need to work on when speaking to a group. I was glad I made the outline, although I would have an idea to add, then see something that would distract me and the thought would fly away. I have to say, I have a new respect for people who prepare and deliver messages/sermons every week! :)
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