A Boat Load of Underwear (Literally)!

The VBS mission this year was for the kids to fill the boat that is in our worship center (not many churches have a boat in their worship center -- more on that later) with underwear and socks for children. One of the things we are always short on in our Wesley's Attic Clothing Ministry (which is located in the basement -- more on that later) is underwear and socks. We do not take used underwear and socks, so we have to purchase these items.

BIT: This boat load of socks and underwear in our worship center will make a big splash (aka "deep impact") in Service to our community. THANK YOU VBS!

BITTER: That's what I'll be if I don't see you at VBS worship on Sunday!

Four of Five

Today we have finished our fourth day of VBS. There was some rockin' the dock (Crocodile Dock, that is)! Only one more day and then our worship spectacular on Sunday. Both worship services will be led by our children and we'll be singing VBS songs!

BIT: Yesterday I was Mary Lin (no, she is not a Biblical Character [a character, yes, just not Biblical {even though she knows her Bible, because she is a Sunday School teacher}]) I wanted to avoid confusion with being Pharaoh on Tuesday -- a Biblical Character. Even though I played Pharaoh on Tuesday, some of the kids are still booing me on Thursday. Move on already. Oh, yes, I was Mary ... Mary works in the tech loft and in honor of doing hardly anything, because Matt Benson is incredible with tech, I compiled a video (yes, you may oh and ah) of some of my favorite pictures so far (they all wouldn't fit). Enjoy.

Crossroads

I have been known to change topics in mid-conversation, so why not mid-VBS. I was reading Mark's thank you in this weeks "By the Way" [this is our "green" version of a weekly newsletter sent out weekly via email -- how environmentally friendly is that! [not to mention we ran out of money to send out the regular newsletter] and I was moved at how much our youth accomplished on their mission trip. [If you haven't signed up for "By the Way" go to ffumc.org and sign up at the top of our web page].

So, I interrupt our regularly scheduled blog on the conspiracies of First Farragut's VBS "Crocodile Dock". [and some have mentioned that the blogs are far from regular, but I note that this is 3 in one week, which surpasses the one who plays golf instead of blogging]

So, don't miss the "By the Way" on Friday and check out what "the one who plays golf" says about the trip by clicking Mark Aronowitz in my blog list.

BIT: I'm so glad I'm the pastor of a church with such a serious, intensive on the task at hand, don't waist time with frivolity, group of youth and youth counselors.

Groundhog Day!

Yes, I know it is way past February and Groundhog Day is long gone. It just seemed like Groundhog Day, the movie. Yes, I played the Pharaoh from the Exodus story today in VBS, and to say that it got a little repetitious would be an understatement. For each plague, I would come out of the robe room (dressed more like a Greek god than an Egyptian Pharaoh -- but I don't think we were going for cultural relevance). I would sit on my aluminum foil "throne" the crowd of VBSers would yell, "Let My People Go." I would say "no". Then ... a plague would come and I would run back into the robe room. Then repeat. The only changes each time was that the plague would change (and whatever they threw at me, literally) and I would make my "no" more and more emphatic.

So ... it went sort of like this ... Out ... Let my people go! No! Water to Blood and then Dead Fish (thrown at me) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! No No! Frogs (kids jumping at me) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! No! No Way! Gnats (kids screeching at me) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! Let me spell it for you N - O! ... Flies (I did get a fly swatter to swat at the buzzing kids) ... Back. [Don't you dare stop reading ... I had to do the whole thing 4 times! ... Read on] Out ... Let my people go! Absolutely Not! ... Dead Livestock (this one was quite humorous with the kids acting out dying cows) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! Read my Lips, "No One is Leaving!" ... Boils (kids put red circle dots all over me) ... Out. Back ... Let my people go! ... What part of "no" are you missing? You are going nowhere!" ... Locust (again with bugs coming at me) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! I'm talking never, never, never, never,never, ever, ever ever. (period) ... Darkness (kids put a pillow case over my head) ... Back. [I hope I didn't leave one out!]

Now do it 3 more times for 3 more groups. And, while I make it sound gruelling here. It turned out to be pretty fun. And, I think the kids liked it too. Where else but Vacation Bible School do you get to throw paper wads at your pastor (oh, I forgot about the hail plague!).

And, the crocodile showed up today (I was wondering if we were going to have a "Crocodile Dock" without a crocodile). He displayed today's theme, "God is Powerful" [the first day was the firefly for "God is with us"]. Of course the crocodile's name was Jacques le Croc, which I'm going to assume is French.

All I know is that we are having a blast with this French gator, the Greek god Pharaoh caught in a continual Groundhog day, and the fantastic life lessons we are learning about God's love and power.

BIT: My conspiracy theory was correct that I shared yesterday. (Remember that I was not in on the planning and felt like I got a leftover part). After I was in costume as the Pharaoh, the Children's Director, Jill-Marie (sounds French doesn't it?) came to me and told me that she needed my help at the closing time, the "firefly finale". I kid you not. She told me she wanted the kids to stuff balloons up my robe and then take a pin and pop them to show that "God is Powerful". I told her I did not believe that any curriculum person in their right mind would write down such a scenario. And, lo and behold, there it is was in the leader's guide. What kind of crazy is that? It's crazy for Jesus, I tell you!

It's On!

Yes, the 2009 VBS has officially kicked off @ First Farragut! It has something to do with Crocodiles and Jesus. I know the kids are having lots of fun today singing and going to different rooms (and I've not seen a Crocodile, yet). The theme is "Where fearless kids shine God's light." I have to be Pharaoh tomorrow -- something about the kids throwing plagues at me. I really need to get in on the planning for next year. Something tells me that I got the leftover part.

BIT: This is my last first at First Farragut. After this week I will have been at First Farragut one year. I'm sure we'll have a lot more "firsts", but we will all have them together. Here's to firsts at First Farragut (and to seconds)!

It's All About the Cookies

I know I have not been keeping up with this blog thing. My excuse is that I have been too busy. "Too busy" keeps me from doing a lot of things I need or want to do ... exercise, read more, spend more time with family and friends. So a while back I decided that I was going to claim some blog time and hopefully my "too busy" would slow down. But then I couldn't decide what monumental entry should be the revival piece, so I kept putting it off. Today it hit me. No, it is not a monumental entry with global ramifications. But it is the revival piece.

Today is Pajama day at my 4-year-old's pre-school, except that he didn't want to wear pajamas this morning. Instead, he insisted on wearing jeans and a sleeveless white t-shirt. I was a little hesitant because I know that he goes to a rather upscale school (I'm reminded each month when I write the check and think college tuition would be less). I wasn't sure how this ensemble was going to go over -- jeans and a "wife beater" (that was what was going through my head). But, I thought the dress code might be more lax on pajama day. Besides, who wants to argue with a headstrong 4-year-old at 6:45 in the morning?

At breakfast, he informed me that his teacher had asked him to bring two sticks of butter so that they could make cookies today. Thankfully, we had butter in the frig, so I agreed. Then, after breakfast, he informs me that he has decided that he wants to take "3 eggs and 2 butters" to make cookies today at school. He is not sure his teacher will have enough ingredients to make the cookies.

As I got dressed, he tells me that I should dress like Wolverine today, too -- and asks if I will be making cookies at church. I tell him that I've got to make a hospital visit and attend a retirement lunch and that if I was dressed like Wolverine ... well, everyone would know for sure that I'm crazy.

As I dropped him off this morning with his half-dozen eggs and 4 sticks of butter ... don't ask ... my eye caught the bulletin board where the kids had shared what they love about their school. And there was my 4-year-old's: "I love Nanny's because I love to make cookies."

BIT: So here I sit in my office ... dressed like Wolverine, my feet up on my desk, eating a cookie ...

... in my mind. Here's to "too busy".

Oh No! Say It Isn't So!

Gincy and I knew we were in a "different" place a couple of months ago when we were required to attend a new parent orientation for Max's new child care center. As it turned out, it was an hour and a half orientation! Now, Gincy and I feel like Max was in a great child care/learning center in Kingsport -- but an hour and a half orientation?

During that orientation, it was explained to us that this palce (we'll leave it unnammed, even though we are very impressed) strived for excellence. If the ozone alert was too high ... well then the students would not go outside. No more "less than nutritious" lunches and snacks ... only the best.

BIT: The "best" hit me the other day when I received the email notification that the scheduled menu had to be changed. It seems that the regular menu selection for the day did not arrive. The talapia that had been order did not arrive on the morning delivery!@!? Therefore, it was necessary to make a substitution .... Max (our three-year-old) would be served fish sticks ... gasp!!! instead of the scheduled talapia.

I wanted to replay to this email notification that I insisted that the next time this occured that stuffed crab should be the substitute! Where do they think we live ... Farragut?