Winterfest once more...

Ah, the year comes full circle. Once again, I sit secluded (half hiding) in my office as Lisa and Ellyn coordinates the yearly drama of who gets to sit on which bus. They leave and quiet falls once more in the lobby of the church building. I pray for good weather, that the buses stay on the road, and that lives are changed for the good.

This weekend, as conversations are being had and new elders stand in readiness for a huge change in their life, it's amazing to see how fragile all life is...human life, church life, the ebb and flow of a congregation---a group of believers. I pray because it is the only thing I can do and because it is the most that I can do. It is all that I can do.

Did you know that worship means doing those things that tell God He is preeminant in your life? In other words, if something is not meaningful to you when doing it, it's not going to be seen as worship by Him. The reverse is also true. By the way, a couple of elders have found some interesting articles online regarding worship that they have been circulating. Let me know if you want to get in on the reading of those.

I stand corrected...

Apparently the broken hand incident was on the morning of Winterfest, not the teen lockin.... Which reminds me, Winterfest will soon be here, too. Did you know we're about to have a whole new involvement and integration program rolled out? I got to hear all about it this morning, and I think it sounds terrific!!! Anyway, at one point this dear volunteer looks at us and asks meekly if the staff could possibly help make reminder phone calls or emails. The short answer from the beleagered staff was...well, "no". I remember (back when I was a volunteer), I used to wonder how a church job could possibly have all the days of the week so jam full, too. Shortly before I was hired, at one point in my ignorance, I said something to Murray like, "I'm pretty hyper---I hope you can keep me busy." I think he almost burst into tears, and rightfully so. [Murray, if you reading this, my sincere apology for my past stupidity]. Anyway, I thought my "many" readers might find a partial list of my weekly chores interesting: staff meeting, confirm elders' mtg, log all hymns from day before, log volunteer hours for worship team/AV team/communion presiders, line up communion participants coming up, schedule AV team/praise team, help plan songs w/ worship leader, meet w/ Bruce & worship leader & do 4 week out planning, send out rehearsal schedule for any production coming up, plan rehearsal for SOS (puppets or improvisation), email out worship agenda, order and/or pickup any needed worship team supplies or SOS supplies, make notebooks if needed, get rehearsal room set up for Wed night, process worship budget bills, prepare auditorium for Sunday, approve proofs and order any needed banners/PR materials for upcoming sermon series, accompany worship team rehearsal, move all from rehearsal room back to Murray's office after Wed night, set up both puppet stages in teen & kids' room for Chad, handle my visitor contacts, write scripts for any needed videos (shoot footage & edit), & make sure mikes & sound & Apple computer & class signs are all out & ready for Sunday! And that's just the routine easy stuff. What's really hard is trying to pick out the perfect song for the kids to sing for Easter. I've listened to ten kids' C.Ds so far, and it's not going well. Actually, reviewing all the materials that come in takes a lot of time...and just about the time I turn on some video clips that might make for some teachable moments and be appropriate for upcoming topics....someone comes by and says, "man, I wish I had a job where I could watch TV." And that's when I try not to burst into tears. :)