C Day-1

Here's a play by play of the past few days here at FUMC.

Thursday they began blocking off the streets for the Texas Book Festival, setting up tents. We were waiting in the office for Olivia the Pig to be delivered (a costume we had agreed to accept for the Book Festival crew).  A call from the delivery company reported their truck had been delayed and Olivia would not be arriving until Friday. Alas - not here on Friday I reported. Find a plan B or get Olivia here today.

Friday -  setup began in FUMC spaces as chairs, sound systems, and other necessary items magically appeared on our premises. On duty all day was David Bonner, receiving, stowing, moving, setting up, guiding.... 4:30 he contacts me in LaGrange to report the Festival crew has not shown up to set up the sound. Advising him to go home and rest up for tomorrow, I make sure they have the access code to the FLC. Friday afternoon -  Stewardship Team members update the Extravagant Generosity wall in the Family Life Center.

Saturday 6:30 a.m. Arrived at the FLC and met David. Found the chairs set up facing east, and the panel discussion stage with mics set up in the northeast corner of the room. Reported the problem to event management. Found the Green Room for speakers filled with the items stored from the Women's Shelter and moved them to another classroom just as the volunteers arrived to set up the room. Russia (now Eurasia Team) arrives to set up to sell hot dogs and sausage wraps in the parking lot as a fundraiser. Coffee turns out to be the hot item on this cold morning. Admire the new banners and signs Jen Stuart installed in the FLC and Sanctuary foyers. Respond to request that it's too cold in the FLC.

9:45 a.m. Attendees begin to trickle in to the events in the FLC. Volunteers trained by me to answer the all-important first question - where is the bathroom? Enjoy watching people stop and look at the Extravagant Generosity wall in the FLC and read the cards. Respond to request that it's too hot in the FLC.

Check in at the Sanctuary where a group of FUMC volunteers led by Ann Teich wait prepared to welcome and direct people to the restrooms. Do you notice a common theme here?

All of this trivia leads up to the fact that meanwhile, FUMC is doing church, making all of the plans to celebrate the final week of our Extravagant Generosity study and bring our thanksgiving offering, our estimate of giving for 2013, to the altar on Sunday.

Most of us have no idea what goes on behind the scenes, how many examples of extravagant generosity, radical hospitality, and risk-taking ministry are carried out here every day by faithful stewards. Some are employees, some are volunteers, some are lay members, occasionally they aren't even affiliated with our church, they just like what we do here and want to be part of it.

The sun is shining, children and adults who love books are surrounding the church, hot dogs are waiting to be eaten, coffee is waiting to be enjoyed, FUMC is alive and humming with activity. I think I'll leave my desk (I had to come change the AC setting AGAIN) and go join in the fun. Maybe I'll even encounter the mysterious Olivia. See you on Sunday!