News from VBS

So far, we have about a dozen kids at our second VBS for the summer. This time it's CrossWind Parish VBS at Fron. And you know it's been a big hit, because this little guy tried to sneak in:
All you could see were his (?) little bat fingers sticking out from behind the picture of Jesus. Obviously, his heart was in the right place! But since bats and small children do not mix, he had to be evicted, as gently as possible, before the kids arrived. Too bad, because I'm sure he would have had a great time!

~Pastor Sarah

Back from the races...

Well, we survived! (Although most of us have very sore arms.) Our parish team got off to a rocky start on the first race, but we improved our time with each successive try. Everyone had a great time, and we are already dreaming of how we will do better next year!

And, most importantly, our boat never tipped over. (Some of us count that as a win all by itself.)
Watch the official website to see if they post results. This year there were over 30 teams! (And the second set of races still managed to be running early, much to the chagrin of practically everyone.)

~Pastor Sarah

Team update

Current confirmed count: 12
Minimum needed for dragon boat team: 17 (16 rowers and a drummer)

Will we get there by our 8:00 practice tonight? Only time can tell.

~Pastor Sarah

Regarding salt and dragon boats

"You are the salt of the earth..." (Matthew 6:13a)

This, I think, is why we are having such a hard time getting a whole team together for the Dragon Boat Festival this weekend. Salt, you see, is not much good if it is all together in the salt shaker--you have to spread it around and mix it in. So we have probably enough CrossWind people out there for at least three teams...but they are scattered throughout the other teams. Salt, get it? I figure that if the team that wins has anybody from our parish on it, we can count that as a win, right?

Actually, if you are are in town and you know anyone who is even remotely interested (or might be persuaded), we could use a few more willing rowers. (Note I said "willing", not necessarily "good" or even particularly "able".) This is a fun way to celebrate our community and our parish while enjoying that beautiful lake that God has give us.

(Also, this is my 100th post on this blog. How should I celebrate?)

~Pastor Sarah

Did you see the rainbow?

This is the last remnant of a truly magnificent double rainbow that appeared over Starbuck on Friday night. With perfect timing, it was at its best just before the St. Johns VBS program. (This shot is outside the back door.)

Sometimes you don't have to preach--you just have to point. Sometimes, though, you don't even have to point. God is just that awesome.

(Let's not talk about how long it took me to figure out that I could send a photo message to an email address and thus have it to upload to the blog.)

~Pastor Sarah

Report from the VBS front

I got to spend the morning hanging out at St. Johns VBS, which was awesome. But that leaves the afternoon for office work, so I have to try to motivate myself. (Almost anything is a letdown after VBS. Office work, more so, especially since it's my day-before-the-weekend.)

This afternoon, the kids went on a field trip to the nursing home in Starbuck to sing for the residents. I'm sure it was great, because I heard them singing--fantastic! They're a little rough around the edges--more enthusiasm than musicality--but that's the way I like it. I love the sound of children really singing--not like they do on most recorded music, all sweetly in tune, but like they do in real life--crazy and all over the place! I wouldn't be surprised if I learned that was God's favorite sound--practically the definition of "joyful noise".

~Pastor Sarah

Prayers: VBS

Today is the halfway point in our parish's first Vacation Bible School of the summer! This week it's happening at St. Johns. On Monday, there were 24 kids! VBS at St. Johns is particularly special because it shows how you can't measure a congregation just by its size. (Many congregations with hundreds of members would be happy to have 24 kids at VBS.) Though it is the smallest congregation in our parish in terms of membership, there is nothing small about the ministry that happens there!

So, lots of prayers this week--prayers of thanksgiving, and also prayers that God will continue to richly bless the ministry of the people of St. Johns in our community. And, while we're at it, prayers that the other Vacation Bible Schools in our area--both Fron and Minnewaska have VBS in August--will also be faith-filled, vibrant places where children and adults can explore God's love together.

~Pastor Sarah