Summer Slow Down

The weather is getting warmer by the day, and things are beginning to slow down. I know it is slowing down because I can actually drive down the street in Old Town and not have to hit my brakes every 20 feet in fear of hitting a tourist on a golf cart, or a scooter, who probably shouldn't be on the road! I can also make a right turn at an intersection without waiting for a sea of people to cross the street! Ah... summer is on the way!

When I first moved here (three years ago now... wow!), I was not overly fond of the summer. It's really hot and humid (in case you hadn't noticed). I can't really sit on the front porch without getting heat stroke and since I don't have a pool, being outside at all is really out of the question! I was also a bit disappointed to find out how many people leave for the entire summer! I kept thinking, "How do you lead a church when no one is here?" So, I decided there must be a way to get people to church in the summer. I just had to figure out how! In case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit stubborn. I know you are shocked, but it is true! So, for three summers I kept on trying to find ways to keep us going at full speed during the hot season.

Now, we've had some moments of summer success. Vacation Bible School was great last year, and it is growing (kudos to Ms. Brandi and crew). One year we had a super Christmas in July program. However, that was lot of work (at least for Ralphie and Nick)! We even hosted some fun summer dinners at the parsonage for some small groups of people to get to know each other better. But, I have learned that nothing we do will bring more people to the island in the summer so the pool we have to draw from is pretty small!

So, this year, we are going to embrace the quiet streets (and even the heat) and kick back a bit for the entire summer! Yes, we will have worship at 11 a.m. every week, but other than that, we are going to take it slow and recharge our batteries while we plan for a super exciting and growth-filled season that will begin again in October! No Old Stone Coffee House. No Wednesday Night Worship. No Connect Groups.

Sure, we will have a few things going on during the hot season. Vacation Bible School will happen June 22nd-26th from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon every day. We really need your help for VBS. Ms. Brandi is looking for station leaders for things like Bible Stories, Science, Crafts, Games etc. Please reach out her if you are able to volunteer. It is so much fun! You will be happy that you did! We will also be hosting a movie night on June 18th for Juneteenth, where we will watch the movie, Best of Enemies. While VBS is for the kids, this movie is for the adults. It tackles the very serious subject of racism in the depiction of a true story of a friendship that grows between an ex-Ku Klux Klan member and a black woman in a southern town in 1971. We will have pizza and discussion following the movie. And we will also have the opportunity to read a book together over the summer months (now that's a great summer activity) called Theo of Golden and get together for another meal and book discussion, sometime in August. Ralphie is also planning some impromptu social gatherings around town - fun!

My friends, there is great relief in letting some things go for the summer. God (and The Byrds) tell us, to everything there is a season! And that we are called to embrace those seasons (Ecclesiastes 3). So that's what I'm going to do this summer! Let's all recharge our batteries and get ready for a super-charged Fall/Winter!

Now, if I only had a swimming pool... sigh!

Graced Peace

-Pastor Madeline