I Love Church

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

I have been going to church all my life – literally!  My father was in a church-related vocation, and my mother worked in a church office – that’s how they met.  And so, I began attending church when I was just a few weeks old.

I have some vague memory-flashes of that first church in Dallas.  I remember the smell of Pinesol;

Credit Google search and Pine-Sol website

I remember a floor that was black-and-white squares, checker boarded;

Credit Google Search and BlogBeen

I remember sitting on Miss Bertha’s lap as she read Bible stories to the children.

But that’s about all I remember.  Of course, I wasn’t quite four years old when we moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.  We remained in the Albuquerque church all the rest of my life, until Fred and I married and moved away.  So that’s where most of my memories lie.

First Baptist Church, Albuquerque
credit Google Search

Fred (my husband of 57+ years) tells of also attending church from a very early age.  I believe he says he received a “perfect attendance” pin for Sunday School when he was 13 months old.  His father, at that time, was pastor of a church.

So it comes as no surprise that Fred and I met in church.  Well, more or less met in church.   (Please see my posts of October 5, 2014 – How We Met – Part 1; October 12, 2014 – How We Met – Part 2; October 19, 2014 – How We Met – part 3)  It was all church-related, in any case.

I remember the Sunday School teachers I had – some good, some not-so-good – but all gave it their best.  I only remember one pastor while there.  He and his family lived not too far from our house, and his youngest daughter and I became fast friends.  We spent a lot of time together.

After Fred and I married, wherever we moved to (either through work or the Air Force), the second thing we did was look for a church home.  The first thing was to find a place to live.  When we lived in California one year, we joined a church because they “needed” us.  We quickly discovered that God had not intended us to be members there.  But we stuck out the year, knowing it was only going to be one year before we headed to Germany.  After that, when we looked for a church home, we would tell those who visited us that, “it’s not that we didn’t feel God’s presence there – we just don’t feel that church is where God wants us to serve.”  And we wouldn’t stop until we found the church where we DID feel that God wanted us to serve.  It’s so much easier to do when you know you are in God’s will!

I must tell you about one experience we had in our present church.  I was church secretary and Fred was the administrator.  We really loved our pastor – he was a wonderful man to work with, and was a great preacher.

One Sunday morning, during the sermon, I remember him making the statement he had just turned 50.  He then said, “I guess that makes Laura [his wife] 50 as well.” Then, from the back of the sanctuary, came a VERY LOUD… “NOOOOOOO!!!” from Laura.  John ducked his head, and with a grin said, “I guess not.”  Brought the house down!  Laughter all around.

I’m so glad God gave us laughter!  I believe Jesus Himself laughed at times.  Can you imagine a small child on His knee, and Jesus laughing at something the child said or did?  I can.  And all the while, that laughter can bring us closer to His word.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.

Psalm 35:9

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years.

Tags: Memories of church