Summer is over!  The kids and teachers are back in school.  Therefore, the only fun time left is the weekend.  What can we do that would be fun on Sunday?

How about come to church!  No, really!  On September 14, 2008, we are going to do something completely different.  We are going to have an outdoor festival!  We will start with worship.  It will not be like every other Sunday, and I am not going to tell you how it will be different.  It is called a surprise.  I will let you know that you should come dressed to enjoy a day outside like at a picnic.  For children of all ages, you may want to bring clothes that you can get wet and a towel.  (The water will not be part of the worship service, unless there should be a baptism.)

After worship, we will cook out on the grill outside the fellowship hall.  Bring hot dogs and hamburgers for your family and bring a salad, veggie plate, and/or dessert to share.  We can eat in the fellowship hall or maybe bring a blanket and enjoy the outdoors.

After lunch, you may have an opportunity to satisfy a lifelong ambition; to let the preacher know that he is all wet!  There will be a dunking tank and I will get in it.  For $1.00 you get four opportunities to immerse me.  The money will go to the youth to cover the Youth-A-Palooza trip in January.  Other people can take a turn in the tank as they wish.

We will also have an inflatable water slide and a smaller water toy for kids.  Frisbees and outdoor games will be available so that everyone who wishes can have some fun.

What is the purpose of this?  The purpose is to have fun at church!  Invite a friend who thinks church is dull and never any fun.  Take advantage of the opportunity to let others see joyous Christians in fun fellowship.  Paul liked the word Rejoice so much that he repeated it in his instructions to Christians.  We need to share in fun and festivities and rejoicing as a vital church in middle Georgia.  We need to celebrate the heritage of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to let our uniqueness show.  We work hard; let’s show how we worship and fellowship in joy and fun.

Who will be the first to drop me in the drink?  Come find out.

Shalom, Darrell