Psalm 149:3  Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

We are so blessed to once again be a part of St. Luke’s here in the Akron area!  Over the past 6 years, we were also fortunate to be a part of wonderful churches while we were in Colorado Springs and Franklin,TN.  Quality in worship, teaching, relationships and experiencing the presence of God are so critical to the life of a local body of believers.

One particular aspect that I treasure here at St Luke’s is how the arts are part of the life of the church.  One of my favorite memories is from a year ago when we were visiting here.  In the midst of the worship service Donna went to the back of the sanctuary where there is space and began dancing before the Lord!  When I looked back and saw her begin to dance, I too went back so I could watch her and share in her joy.  You see, dancing before the Lord is a love language for Donna.  Through dance, her worship takes on another dimension – one of intimacy and adoration of Jesus.  It’s all about communicating her love.

We attended St Luke’s in Akron for twenty years before moving in 2005 and Donna was part of their liturgical dance team, Word In Motion.  They regularly danced as part of the corporate worship.  It has always been a special blessing to me and others to watch Donna worship by dancing because she absolutely radiates joy and love for Jesus.

I remember our daughter-in-law Fabiana from Brazil describing the blessing it was to her to watch Donna worship in dance.  Donna bears a striking resemblance to Fabi’s mom who was killed in an accident years earlier a few hours after becoming a Christian.  Fabi had never gotten to see her worship.  Watching Donna dance, was like watching her mom worship the Lord.

I am thrilled to watch Donna, knowing the joy she experiences as the Lord receives her worship and responds to her.  I can just see Jesus watching her, smiling and enjoying His daughter dancing before Him.  I am so grateful that He has given me a wife that is so in love with Him – and that He has given her this wonderful love language to express it to Him.