December 4 – “Mario’s and Muscle”

The church decorations are … well, not completely done.  Looks like we have to make a trip or two to pick up some lights and some garland to add some finishing touches.  But I have to say we had the largest turnout ever to a Hanging of the Greens fellowship.  At least 25 folks stayed to help and enjoyed some good Mario’s pizza in the process.  There were people stacking and putting away chairs, carrying out Alvin ministry gifts, setting up and decorating Christmas trees, hanging garland and lights, sweeping the floor, carrying out trash, and even replacing damaged ceiling tiles.  I know, that one sounds pretty mundane, so that’s the one I took.  Between my partner and myself we had about .07 hours of experience in anything handyman related, so it was a comedy of errors with us.  We got the job done, though.  I think the area was pretty well set for the stenciling workshop tonight. 

Oh, and one group of brave souls even headed up to the retreat center and set up several trees there as well.  And up in the retreat center is where we ended the work day.  See, we were also setting up for Bethlehem Street Market, our craft fair that comes into being Saturday at 10 a.m.  We have been receiving so many requests for vendor booths that we had to move all the bunks out of one of the rooms to make some more space.  And the requests are still coming in (I got another one after we came home last night).  Many, many kudos to Corey and Janell and Brennan and Zak and Janet and Lauren and Cathy and Suzann and, of course to Chris, the overall coordinator of the event.  They worked long and hard (And HEAVY.  Those beds are heavy) hours to get that place all set up and cleaned and even vacuumed. 

Of course along with the benefits of knowing a task is complete must come the consequences.  Lauren was limping on her bad foot.  Janet was nursing a bad back.  I could barely move by the time we got home after my little falling escapade the other day.  Well, my fellow invalids, we have almost a week to recuperate before the big day.  Get some rest.

Psalms 9:9 says, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

Father, thank you for all the help yesterday.  It was good to see so many hands on deck.  Amen.