Overall, today was a good day at Embrace Church. For a great recap of today’s excitement, you should also read Addy’s blog (our communications director).
We set today’s arrival time for the set-up crew at 7:00 a.m. That is one hour earlier than usual but we felt we needed to back it up because there was an event at Loose Cannon Saturday night and because today was our pancake breakfast.
Luckily the placed wasn’t trashed so set-up was not a problem. The pancake breakfast was a huge success. Beka did a great job coordinating this with Adam and Josh’s help. So many of our team members helped out by cooking pancakes, keeping the buffet fresh, and serving people. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the food, the chance to eat breakfast together, and good conversation.
We have done two meals at Embrace and they have both been such a success that we will probably continue this once a month. We have a great idea for June. It’s gonna be fun!
Because of the breakfast, we didn’t start church until 11:20 a.m. No one cared. By the way, the crowd was great today. In fact it was the highest crowd since launch day. We had some first time folks and friends who came to enjoy breakfast but mostly it just seemed so many of our regulars were able to come back today. It was great!
As soon as the music started, we all knew something was really wrong. Addy was running the Macbook and MC runs the lights and sounds, and I always hang back close to the door during worship so I can greet any latecomers…they started looking at each other and looking at me. The guitar was blaring…it was painful…you couldn’t understand Adam at all. It was so bad that Addy didn’t even know what slide to display on ProPresenter.
After the first song, Johnny did the welcome, and Adam and the guys made some adjustments so the next two songs went better but something still wasn’t perfect. (It was later determined that two wires were crossed on the soundboard) And then during the 3rd song there was a beautiful, dramatic moment where the band seemed to go acoustic or even acapella, but something wasn’t right…the instruments didn’t fade…they died…and so did the lights. Apparently it was diagnosed later that the griddles we used for the breakfast were sucking up so much power that we blew it…literally! It was truly a moment straight out of Journey’s first preview service. Where is Al Gore when you need a good green cooking appliance?
These things happen. This was our 8th week together and the first time we have ever had such problems. It was bound to happen and we survived. The only reason it upset me was because we had some first-time folks today, and I honestly believe we have one of the greatest bands and worship ministries and worship atmospheres going in the church world today. Seriously. So I hate that our new folks didn’t get to see that in its fullness. I know it bothered Adam because he is the eternal perfectionist which is exactly why we have the production level we have today. Oh well. Life goes on.
We just fumbled our way through an intermission and went into the message. I am really glad I started the Engage series today. Week one went well. My main objective was to motivate people to experience an inner conviction that pushes us to engage the Bible in a new way.
Even with the late service and all the extra clean-up, tear-down was still done by 1:45 p.m.
Beka and I enjoyed lunch at Chilis with a good friend and Embrace regular. Because I only slept 3 hours last night (if that), I have been pretty useless this afternoon and tonight.
And now it’s time to watch this week’s episode of LOST!
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