I remember when they had “blue laws” that kept the big stores from opening on Sundays, and people didn’t work too much on that day, and I was a “lay-person” in church. Now, Sunday is a really long day! With no rest. Started the day at 5:30 a.m. did a couple of minutes on the computer to see if there were any last second cancellations over the night via email from my Church volunteers (I call them “civilians”). Hit the showers and prepared for departure at 6:45a.m.
Arrived at McDonalds at 7:15a.m. for a last minute study of a Children’s Church program that I had to teach…one of the “Civilians” was not gonna make it. “Sick” she said. (yeah, right). Okay…it was Marilyn, sometimes these things strike close to home.
Undaunted, I prepared for church like any other pastor; wadding up paper and stuffing them in garbage bags, – hey it’s for games…and it had a theological premise! (Someday I’ll get called up to the major leagues…)
At 8:00 SHARP I met my ragtag band of special operatives (the schlepping crew – they help me cart everything we need for church from a warehouse near the Church – actually it’s a gymn at the YMCA….).
We arrived at the Y (AKA Grace Church) at 8:20 and met the audio specialist (who had never actually done audio before but, I would train the raw recruit into a lean, mean feedback machine), and the set up crew (they specialize in chair distribution and placement).
By 9:15 it was clear the audio guy was in peril, the chairs were okay, and that the rain was gonna make things nasty getting in from the parking lot. But, we pressed on…stealing umbrellas so that our “Greeter” could walk people in who didn’t notice that it was POURING and left home without any way of staying dry.
10AM – service begins. I’m still trying to get the Bass Guitar’s direct box to work when the band start’s playing. I’m working under fire…intense pressure to get the bass online before he starts playing at the chorus. Mission accomplished.
10:15 band is playing, people still coming in, I’m not in the gymn now…running from little minor problem to little minor problem…and tyrying to remember where I put my garbage bag of wadded up paper for my game in Children’s Church.
10:45 Band is done…announcements being made…I run up and make one that I had forgotten about.
11:00 it’s “Covenant Sunday” we welcome 35 new members who completed our 8 week basic training ( I mean Equipping The Saints class) to our small fellowship.
This takes longer than we thought so when all is said and done…I call an audible and cancel children’s church…and we just sorta coast into the noonish finish time.
12:15 tear down. What goes up….must come down. Then, be moved back to the warehouse…takes until 1:15 to finish this.
1:30 Decide to eat lunch at a Chineses place. Mar is sick…the boys had spent the night at friend’s house…I’m by myself.
2:15 Finish lunch. Can’t go home…cause I havre to be back in 2 hours. So, I go to Border’s Books and read a book and drink coffee.
4:00 Leave Borders and go back to YMCA.
4:15 begin to set up for the “Potluck Dinner” that will occur at 6:00. No civilian in sight. Finally, help arrives in the form of two girls and one guy…I’ll take it…they can be molded into professionals.
5:15 Set up complete. Begin trying to find out where my boys are who were supposed to be dropped of at the Y at 4:30
5:45 people begin to arrive…need MP’s to keep people away from the food.
6:10 Stand on chair…tell people to watch their own kids…to eat, drink and be merry, bless the food, and old people can eat first if they can get past that Usher fighting his way to the front of the line.
6:15 Begin pastoral schmoozing.
8:15 Halt pastoral schmoozing.
8:30 Begin tear down of room (have to leave the camp site better than how we found it).
9:30 Depart YMCA
10:00 Arrive at home. Put Kids to bed, walk the dog, check email, get ready for Monday.
11:00 Wonder….what ever happened to the “day of rest” thing…??