By the time I get to church, after having wrangled 3 little boys and the pile of books I think I need to bring with me, I land in my fold-out chair with an oomph, only half remembering why I came.
There are announcements, a prayer, then music. A boy to my left takes off his shoes. Up front, strong grandpa hands raise up. It’s just us and God of the Universe.
I sit next to dear friends. I know them well. They know me. We look around the room, we the church. How many stories are here? How many ways have we failed, the most broken, jacked up bunch of people I’ve ever seen.
The church is beautiful. I get mad at her sometimes, but she is me. We meet together, and we feel close to home – smell the home-cooking, are citizens together, built up together. Nothing in common except death, burial, and resurrection.
We are all here grasping. We ask: How high? How wide? Long, High, Deep? This love surpasses knowledge, but we try so hard to know. We try to imagine together, though He can do immeasurably more than even that.
Church, this is you saying what is true:
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
*post by Amber Haines; video compiled by Seth Haines. *Thank you Thank you Thank you, Beautiful Church, for coming together from several corners of the world and from many walks of life to speak what is true.
ABOUT AMBER HAINES
Amber Haines has 4 sons, a guitar-playing husband, theRunaMuck, and rare friends. She loves the funky, the narrative, and the dirty South. She finds community...
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
So beautiful and good and true. Thank you for this.
This was *amazing* and I’m so glad we were a part of it. So many people in so many places and circumstances taking time to speak these verses, united by our faith and hope in Him.
Sometimes we get to see it, don’t we? A sneak peek into the Church the way Christ sees her – spread out across countries and cultures and accents and following after Him hard and passionate and true.
Thank you thank you thank YOU Seth and Amber for giving us the gift of sight today. What a treasure. This and you both!
Much love and humble thanks,
Lisa-Jo
I’m really proud of you ..Specialy you are too close to church ..Thanks Bino
I am so sorry for those who’s verses got clipped. I am going to try to render again this week into 2 parts. Again, sorry for the technical snaffu.
Thanks so much to all who contributed clips. You folks did great work!
I’ve been wanting to write on this very subject, and you did it for me! Will be linking this up later. Thank you for saying what’s been on my heart. :)
Oh, such BEAUTY. The beautiful church, indeed.
Thank you Seth for the time and energy and work you have put into collecting readings and creating such a precious picture of His Bride. Oh, how glorious.
Love, love, love.
amber–your words bless me to no end. and this community reading? so powerful. so beautiful.
Beautiful, yes, beautiful.
Ancient words, bringing new life.
Seth and Amber – thank you for sharing.
Collective voice speaking Truth.
**love**
Love this a million gazillion times over!
This is so amazingly beautiful. Thank you so much for putting this together! So grateful to be a part of this.
Beautiful indeed, even in our brokenness. Thanks for your work on the video, so amazing!
Beautiful, REAL, His Glory!
Thank you, thank you –
Teri
This is such an amazing idea! I love joining and creating Community around the Book of Ephesians … and what an inspiration it is for Holy Week! Is Part 2 (the rest of Ephesians) imminent? Or, did I somehow miss it? A huge THANKS to Amber and Seth!
Jessa,
We would love to finish out the entire book of Eph. We have a bit of a running start on Chapter 5. Would love you to participate!
Lovely, moving, glorious reminder of the power of the Word and the beauty of the body. Thanks so much for your work! This is a gift beyond gifts to begin Holy Week for me.
That was powerful. I always remember what a pastor said, “If Christ loved the church enough to give his life for her, shouldn’t we love the church also?”
It was great to read together and encouraging. May the Lord bless we all according to His riches.
Prayer is the most powerful action to ever take GOD BLESS TEXAS
good story
I like the last 2 scriptures very much, wonderful verses to end with. I pray we all come to grow in maturity in the body of Christ to His glory and honour. Praise to Him who holds all things in His hands. Praise to the Holy One of Israel. Amen.
SO PRECIOUS!!! Many Thanks to each of you who sweetly read & ministered
God’s Word to us on this day* Hearing the angelic voices of children reading Scripture always melts my heart!!
Blessings,
Susan
This is so sweet!
This is the Word of God for the people of God. Praise be to God. This is as good as witnessing can get. Thank you for being true to the Word and encouraging the children to participate. Dr. R. Sampl, D.C.E.
Amber and Seth,
THANK YOU again and again!
I am going to share this with countless people in Kenya, East Africa….
I want you to know that your vision and message – God’s message – will go a long way.
If there is ever a project you would like to do recording our orphaned and other kids, parents and teachers in Kenya, please do let me know.
You pick the verse – or let them…. or anything else.
You guys are amazing.
I’m very much ON BOARD!
Michelle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atpYAAUMZpM
Here’s a link to our latest video – but please do visit our media section on our site:
http://www.matanyashope.org
Blessings always,
Michelle
I believe in whatever you believe….thank you!
It’s so beautiful to see and hear so many different ones, including children, reading the Word of God in the different settings. It’s His Word & His Church come alive! Thank you…
AMEN! Praise to You, Lord Christ! Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus into our hearts and minds an souls that we may know the fullness of Your grace! Thanks for helping me start my day !
Thank you for sharing this video! With tears in my eyes I praise God for the unity we share in Him :)
One CHURCH in the unity of God Our Father.
It was moving to listen – thanks.
Not many men have posted – Give God the glory!
Shalom
Wow. Really Good. God Bless..
This is a blessing to hear the word read by the body of Christ. First time for me to experience the word read on the web in this manner. Great to hear… will share on my facebook page.
very encouraging, i felt my strenght renewd, the word came at the right time for me.
So beautiful! Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Thank you Lord for this day. God bless all who shared this.
….and God bless Israel!
Great seeing many brothers and sisters in Christ – children and young
to middle age adults. How about a few old people next time.
And people from all around the world. I live in France.
This post had such an impact on me and my attitude toward church — even a year later. Thank you!
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