The sanctuary of Newberry Community Church was filling up as Mac rang
the church bell to signify the beginning of the Sunday morning service.
In the fifth pew on the left, Karen looked back and smiled as she heard
Mac ring the church bell, as she had heard long before she and her parents
attended the church. Karen turned back around to face the front, then focused
her eyes upward and smiled dreamily. It fascinated her that she was falling in
love with the man who before she never knew and yet she could always hear
him; figurativly speaking, anyway. She became lost in that thought when a
voice snapped her daze.
him; figurativly speaking, anyway. She became lost in that thought when a
voice snapped her daze.
"Karen?" she heard Mac suddenly, "Are you all right?"
"Oh," Karen said, startled. "Mac! Sorry, I was in a daze."
"Everything all right?"
"Oh yes." Karen that patted the empty space next to her in the pew she
sat in to motion Mac to sit down beside her which he did.
sat in to motion Mac to sit down beside her which he did.
Mac had to tell her something and he seized the opportunity before the
service began.
service began.
"Karen," Mac whispered to Karen, "What are you doing after church."
"Not a thing," Karen whispered back in answer.
"I'd like to get together with you after church if that's all right with you."
"I'd love that."
"We'll discuss where after the service. The service is getting ready to start."
"That's fine, Mac."
The service began with prayer and then the offering. After those were out
of the way Pastor Hal Shumway gave this announcement, "This morning
we have special singing. Karen Williams has a hymn she wishes to share
with us." He motioned for Karen to come foreward. "Karen, please
come on up."
Mac got up and out of the pew to let Karen out and as she made her way
toward the pulpit Mac thought to himself, She has a singing talent, too?
Karen's parents looked toward Mac and just grinned which made Mac
wonder, What else hasn't she told me?
Mac turned to where Karen stood at the pulpit and addressed the crowd
with "Good morning everyone," into which the congregation replied with
the same words. Karen then announced, "This morning I"m going to sing
'Servant's Heart.' It's an old Ron Hamilton tune and it's also in our
hymnals if you would like to follow along."
A couple of pews back from where Mac sat, the Canfields along with
Julie, Alex, and their newfound friend Tommy Hunt got out their hymnals
from the slots in the back of the pew in front of them, with Brian helping
Alex and with Dawn helping Julie and Tommy find the page. Brian and
Dawn knew the hymnals almost like they knew their bibles and shared
it accordingly. When everyone got to the page of the hymn that Karen
was going to perform, they saw Karen look up and nod toward the
sound room where Tim McCann, the sound system operator, kicked on
the karoake system that would provide the backup music as Karen sang.
The intro music began as Karen stood ready to begin the vocal arrangement.
When on cue, she began with a soft and almost angelic voice:
"Make me a servant like you, dear Lord
Living for others each day
Humble and meek, helping the weak
Loving in all that I say
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Here's my life, take every part
Give to me a servant's heart
Help me draw so close to You
That Your love comes shining through
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Make me a witness like you dear Lord
Sharing the love of the cross
Sharing the word, till all have heard
Sharing whatever the cost
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Here's my life, take every part
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Help me draw so close to you
That Your love comes shining through
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Give me Lord, a servant's heart."
When Karen finished there was clapping with Mac
the first to stand while clapping with those close by
him joining him then immediately the whole congregation.
Karen called out a "thank you" before she stepped down
and back to the pew where Mac and her parents were sitting.
Mac got up from the pew to let Karen back in, a look of
amazement on his face as Karen walked past him and to her
spot in the pew.
Karen noticed the look of amazement on Mac's face and
when he sat back down next to her, she leaned toward him
and whispered, "You look surprised. Good. I wanted to
surprise you."
"I must say that I am," Mac whispered back, "I must also
say that you have a beautiful voice. You did a great job."
"Why thank you, Mac."
"Just what else haven't you told me yet?"
"We'll talk about it after church, okay?"
"Sounds good."
The next thing they both knew, Mac's left hand and Karen's
right hand moved toward one another and then they were
holding each other's hand and giving side glances to each
other.
This concludes Chapter 22.
we have special singing. Karen Williams has a hymn she wishes to share
with us." He motioned for Karen to come foreward. "Karen, please
come on up."
Mac got up and out of the pew to let Karen out and as she made her way
toward the pulpit Mac thought to himself, She has a singing talent, too?
Karen's parents looked toward Mac and just grinned which made Mac
wonder, What else hasn't she told me?
Mac turned to where Karen stood at the pulpit and addressed the crowd
with "Good morning everyone," into which the congregation replied with
the same words. Karen then announced, "This morning I"m going to sing
'Servant's Heart.' It's an old Ron Hamilton tune and it's also in our
hymnals if you would like to follow along."
A couple of pews back from where Mac sat, the Canfields along with
Julie, Alex, and their newfound friend Tommy Hunt got out their hymnals
from the slots in the back of the pew in front of them, with Brian helping
Alex and with Dawn helping Julie and Tommy find the page. Brian and
Dawn knew the hymnals almost like they knew their bibles and shared
it accordingly. When everyone got to the page of the hymn that Karen
was going to perform, they saw Karen look up and nod toward the
sound room where Tim McCann, the sound system operator, kicked on
the karoake system that would provide the backup music as Karen sang.
The intro music began as Karen stood ready to begin the vocal arrangement.
When on cue, she began with a soft and almost angelic voice:
"Make me a servant like you, dear Lord
Living for others each day
Humble and meek, helping the weak
Loving in all that I say
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Here's my life, take every part
Give to me a servant's heart
Help me draw so close to You
That Your love comes shining through
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Make me a witness like you dear Lord
Sharing the love of the cross
Sharing the word, till all have heard
Sharing whatever the cost
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Here's my life, take every part
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Help me draw so close to you
That Your love comes shining through
Give me Lord, a servant's heart
Give me Lord, a servant's heart."
When Karen finished there was clapping with Mac
the first to stand while clapping with those close by
him joining him then immediately the whole congregation.
Karen called out a "thank you" before she stepped down
and back to the pew where Mac and her parents were sitting.
Mac got up from the pew to let Karen back in, a look of
amazement on his face as Karen walked past him and to her
spot in the pew.
Karen noticed the look of amazement on Mac's face and
when he sat back down next to her, she leaned toward him
and whispered, "You look surprised. Good. I wanted to
surprise you."
"I must say that I am," Mac whispered back, "I must also
say that you have a beautiful voice. You did a great job."
"Why thank you, Mac."
"Just what else haven't you told me yet?"
"We'll talk about it after church, okay?"
"Sounds good."
The next thing they both knew, Mac's left hand and Karen's
right hand moved toward one another and then they were
holding each other's hand and giving side glances to each
other.
This concludes Chapter 22.
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