Message of Hope at Hope

I knew it was going to be a great Sunday when I walked into Community of Hope United Methodist Church and was escorted to my "dressing room." The door had my name on it (with a star)! Inside the room, there was a table set up with a lighted mirror. Pastor Joe Carmichael and his staff really took care of me.

Community of Hope is a lively congregation. There is no grass growing under the feet of Pastor Joe or his members. For instance, half the foyer was stacked with wrapped Christmas presents and food items. When I asked a woman what it was for, she informed me that the church has adopted a local elementary school. The gifts were for needy children and the food would be used to hold a Christmas banquet for the school.

Two worship services are held at COH and I had the opportunity to present my Christmas monologue, "Simeon's Dream," at both. Mary was portrayed by a local high school theater teacher, and she did a bang-up job as she strolled down the aisle with the Baby Jesus in her arms, cooing a lullaby. COH also has a terrific praise band. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" was sung by a female vocalist with a crystal-clear voice, accompanied by piano. The entire band got behind a male singer for "Mary, Did You Know?," complete with a video of a high-angle shot of Mary holding the Babe, hay strewn on the ground below.

The comments after both services were encouraging. A teenage girl shook my hand and said, "That was AMAZING!" A woman told me, "The Holy Spirit was on you the moment you walked into the sanctuary until the moment you walked out." A man on his way out simply said, "Absolutely awesome."

Like I said, the church took care of me!