catch!

Pastor T's sermon today centered around last years workcamp theme which was 'Bound Together, Finely Woven.' The sermon spoke to Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - I want to highlight the last part of verse 12: "a cord of three strands is not quickly broken." What richness! Those three strands for workcamp can be the youth, the adult advisors on the workcamp, and, of course, one of those strands are our sisters and brothers whom we will serve alongside at workcamp! This summer's theme: 'With Glad and Generous Hearts' is based on Acts 2:46. Pastor T is always telling us to BE the Church? Well, this is it folks! The writer of Acts is showing us that with glad and generous hearts we are to share our possessions, our food, our selves with all of society! What a great opportunity we have to do this at workcamp! (check out Acts 2:43-47 - it's good stuff!)
(taken from an email I just sent to the youth group at CGCOB where I serve as youth director)

God/Life has a way of throwing you curveballs...
I went to church this morning thinking, "I'd rather be in bed." The college students were screaming on my street until at least 3 AM and I ended up having to sleep on the couch (for some reason the noises don't bother me as much in the living room). I may have gotten four hours of sleep. OH I was so MAD when I finally gave up and left my bedroom. I was absolutely fuming at the lack of respect from these students! As I frequently say, "people LIVE on this street!" (which is mostly occupied by undergrad houses owned by the College...so when I say 'people' I mean my house and the professor that lives a couple houses down from us) Now I'm trying to quietly write some liturgy for Annual Conference and the kids across the street just began their band practice (the band may as well be playing in my living room, it's so loud!)

Also, it's raining...

end rant.

So you can see why I would rather be sleeping than going to church.

I arrived early to get some work done for upcoming youth events and was refreshed by an impromptu conversation with the new pastor at the church. We had a good and well attended Sunday School class. I watched two youth deliver a great announcement during church. AND Pastor T's sermon was dead on! I began writing the email above during the sermon.

I get inspired by service. I can write and reflect and understand and exhibit compassion and get fired up by Christian service.

shoulder to shoulder...
side by side...
hand in hand...
...the heart regulating the hands
nothing left over to the one with the most...
nothing lacking to the one with the least...
a cord of three strands...
...with glad and generous hearts



So, catch! I get it. I caught the curveball. I am grateful for today. I am grateful for the youth and the c(C)hurch. I'm working on being grateful for the college students...