I have so many Vacation Bible School memories that it is hard to pick out a favorite. But the one that always comes to mind is the one where we formed dance lines and sang, ‘Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-Fiesta!” The theme was something from the southwest and with our hands on the shouldes of the person in front of us, we sang and danced to that song throughout the week.
If there is one thing that our church has done well over the years, it is Vacation Bible School. We may not have the biggest or even the best, but our program generated the most energy for our congregation of anything we do during the year. We would have one hundred children and sixty staff working during the week to bring the good news of Jesus to kids from age 3 to 11. A theme song and word would define the week for us, and it’s hard not to forget the shouts of “Viva!”
Vacation Bible School has always been provided a spark to our congregation, involved more members than any other event, and connected with the community in dynamic ways each year. I am indebted to the many who have made our program happen each year, and privileged to be a part of the week each summer. We had so much fun preparing the artwork, performing the dramas, eating the snacks and singing the songs!
n September 2004, we had two Sundays when no one came to church! On September 5 and 26 in 2004, hurricanes passed close enough by that everyone had either hunkered down or left town.
For many years our church’s music ministry has presented a special musical worship service during the seasons of Advent and Lent. A few years ago (2010), we went all out with a Christmas musical arranged by David Clydesdale “A Baby Changes Everything.” The production includes elaborate hand painted sets, lots of lines for actors and songs for soloists to learn, and a number of challenging pieces for the choir to learn. As part of a multi-age cast that met for many rehearsals, I had two solos of my own to learn, plus a narration. All our work was for just one night. By the grace of God we pulled it off. It was a night far beyond anything we had done before or have done since.
It was a cold winter day at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Coventry, CT, when I opened up the church on a Sunday morning and discovered that the heating system was dead. It was just about as cold inside the little sanctuary as it was outside in the snow.
In a few weeks I will observe the thirtieth anniversary of my ordination. Thirty years! Where did that time go? Anyway, I thought I would write about my top ten ministry moments and memories from the past thirty years, beginning with the first LCMS national youth gathering I attended in 1989.
A preacher (like me) has a unique perspective on Sunday morning. While you are sitting watching and listening to me, just one person, I am looking at you, a whole congregation. You may notice a few of the people and your friends around you, but I get to see all of God’s people gathered together to hear His word and receive His gifts of grace.
It’s been an Elijah weekend. We’ve had our one-year-old grandson staying with us since yesterday afternoon.
Waite for it... 