Calling All Angels

By now, many of you have heard the story of our Key West Holiday Parade experience this past Saturday (or at least part of the story). Just in case you haven't, I'll give you the cliff notes…

Last Saturday Nick and Ralphie began decorating the golf cart we rented (thank you to Jenn Stephens for donating funds for the rental) at around 1pm. Ralphie had to go to work so Nick and I (mostly Nick) finished the decorating. It's a busy time of year and it is very difficult to round up volunteers. We brought the cart down to the parade line up area around 4:30pm and Nick then had to go to work. Let me just stop here and say that we only had six angels (who are truly angels!) on the parade route with us that night. 

The parade was supposed to start at 7:00pm but at 7:20 we still hadn't seen any parade floats or entries move. Oh, I forgot to mention we ended up being #63 in line!!!! Finally, around 8:10pm, we started to move but it was extremely "stop and go" and we were still about four blocks from the beginning of the parade route. 

Once we finally reached the beginning of the route, it continued to be very "stop and go." About two blocks into a two-mile parade route the golf cart (Angel Mobile) died! Dead as a doornail, Jacob Marley might say! We pushed it through the crowd into a parking lot. Once we were safely off the road, I looked up and saw that we were in Vixens' parking lot (yes, the strip club!) The Angels Promoting Peace (who were feeling anything but peaceful) ended their eight-hour parade experience in Vixens' parking lot with about 5000 pieces of candy still on board!

Now, at this point you may be looking for me to say something profound or deep or even remotely theological, but I am going to hold that for my sermon on Sunday. Right now, let me just tell you that I just wanted to go home and cry! Yes, even pastors get discouraged, disappointed as well as annoyed! I will claim all of those emotions in that moment. However, as a bit of foreshadowing, let me just say that I was very blessed to be surrounded by amazing people - Les Steele, Kathy Winters, Debbie Smith, Colin Smith and my daughter Sara! They kept me centered and grounded in some moments when I just wanted to throw in the towel (or at least my halo)!

For the rest of the story, tune in on Sunday at 11am either in person or on Facebook!

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

Grace and Peace

-Pastor Madeline