God is surprising. Angels show up in places we least expect them. The tomb on Easter morning. Lake Street in Oak Park. Let me tell you about three angels I encountered during Holy Week at First United.
On Palm Sunday we wanted to play the U2 song "When Loves Comes to Town" during worship. Rob Leveridge put together a band, but on the day before the service our drummer had to back out because his mother was critically ill. Rob tried everyone he could think of to sub, but no one was available. The bass player said he could switch to drums, but we would need to find a new bass. What to do? The band members trudged into church with their instruments on Saturday morning to practice in the sanctuary. A man named Sean was waiting in line for the food pantry downstairs. He saw the guitar cases and asked, "Do you need another musician?"
"Yes, in fact we do," said Rob. Sean was the answer to our prayers. He practiced on Saturday morning and showed up to play on Sunday for worship. Love came to town, all right.
God is surprising.
On Good Friday, a group of us gathered on a cold and windy day to carry a six-foot cross through the streets . . . remembering Jesus' walk to the cross. Marilyn and Dan, two gray-haired seniors, were the first to volunteer to carry the cross three blocks to Austin Gardens. We had hardly gotten started when a man with dreadlocks and sunglasses rushed over to us. "Can I help you carry that cross?" he asked. His name was Jim, and he said he was waiting for a bus but could take some time to go with us. Fifty feet later, another man walked up to us -- Tony was his name. Angel #3 also offered to help with the cross. Dan and Marilyn were relieved of their burden, and Jim and Tony joined us all the way to Austin Gardens, where we read the story of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
"How does it feel to pray with others, versus praying alone?" I asked the group. Jim chimed right in. "We're never alone when we pray," he said. "God is always there."
True enough.
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