True confessions

It doesn't matter if you brought a different book for each piece you are playing throughout the service. It's going to happen. The pastor is going to say something in his sermon that very directly ties into a song for which you didn't bring music. A song you know you have in that one book. You might drive back to your house between services to get it. You might write the entire service off as a missed opportunity. You might just pull out the hymnal and improvise on a wing and a prayer during the offertory. There is no cure for wanting that one book.... (Unless you live across the street and can send a gopher to get it for you.)

Anger is a natural part of grief. It's one of the 5 stages, so it truly is to be expected when your father dies. And in some ways, it's the easiest one with which to cope. Grief is exhausting. Anger comes with energy. Depression makes it so you can barely get out of bed in the morning- anger shoves you out of bed to go destroy the world.  Sadness and pain cripple you- anger lands you back on your feet ready to lash out. Denial keeps you away from church because you don't want to face the realities of death and salvation and life- anger drives you to church so you can go give God a piece of your mind. Acceptance is a far-off seemingly unrealistic concept- anger is familiar and real.  Point is, anger is a functional emotion. It is a motivating, energizing, driving force. People easily go through life every day while simmering with anger, without any grief.  So when you're crippled by pain and sadness and sick of numbing depression, anger is a safe place to go....

I said it pays to double-check the bulletin... But it also pays to double-check your music. Do you have all the pages printed? Are you missing page 3 of 4? Did you accidentally not pull out page 50 of your printed off copy of the New Morning Praise setting, meaning you don't have the Prayer for Grace and following responses in front of you when you get to that point of the service?