This is offered with apologies to Katy Perry. Honestly, I can’t say any of us is a firework, but we certainly all know a bit more about them. Last evening, just shy of midnight, the firework tent we worked with St. Marks UMC was put to bed for the season. Oh, my….
It matters not how big the fans are when under a circus tent in 100 degree heat. It was hot! Helping customers, restocking merchandise, checking them out and collecting payment all takes work and it takes manpower. That’s what I want to say a word about this morning.
Northern Boulevard UMC; you totally rock! When personnel was needed, when the hard work was done, when the long hours were put in, you were there. I am bragging just a bit, but I’m not sure the tent would have worked without the tireless effort of our congregation. I will tell you, I have never been prouder of a group of people, nor more honored to be associated with you all. I am not going to try to list all the volunteers (you know who you are) because I certainly don’t want to leave anyone out. However, it is incumbent upon me to call out Brenda O’Dell by name. As the tent was opening, there was a void in trained cashiers and a head cashier to account for and balance the tills daily. Guess who stepped up? Yep! I shudder to think of the number of hours Brenda put in during this enterprise. We are lucky to count her in our midst. And we are lucky to count each other as co-workers in the vineyard, or firework tent, as it so happens.
Thank you everyone!
As we rest and enjoy the air conditioning, we turn our attention to Sunday when we visit Paul’s letter to the Romans for the fourth of five times. In the seventh chapter, after an extensive argument about the interplay between grace and Torah, between standing before God and behavior before others, Paul finally comes to a conclusion we would be well to affirm. It finally and forever is God’s grace that holds us together. We will spend some time with Paul’s doxology and claim it as our own.
Until then, rest, stay cool, and stay in love with God. See you Sunday.
Paul